Definition of AFFECTING

Choose the Right Synonym for affecting

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion. moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy. a moving appeal for contributions impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction. an impressive list of achievements poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities. a poignant documentary on the homeless affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos. an affecting deathbed reunion touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion. the touching innocence in a child's eyes pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt. pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of affecting in a Sentence

He begins his book with an affecting description of his difficult childhood. the affecting final scene in the play, when the children are reunited with their father

Recent Examples on the Web

What The First is: a surprisingly affecting drama about several families and a planet in crisis. — Todd Vanderwerff, Vox, "Hulu’s The First is everything wrong with modern TV drama. Reader, I loved it.," 14 Sep. 2018 One of the most affecting pieces in the show drives this point home. — Jillian Steinhauer, The New Republic, "Adrian Piper’s art plays with identity and confronts defensiveness.," 30 May 2018 The tragedy of watching him try to extract himself from his Soviet minders, connect with his oblivious son, and try to find his moral core is the most affecting part of the show. — Taylor Antrim, Vogue, "Is The Americans a Good Show, or a Great One? The Next 2 Weeks Will Settle the Question," 18 May 2018 This is an intensely melancholic performance: Julie’s grief at the death of her love seems to come in great unstoppable waves, the most affecting moment of the night. — Chris Jones, chicagotribune.com, "Jessie Mueller stars in a Broadway 'Carousel' that reminds us life is all too short," 13 Apr. 2018 One of the most affecting passages in the book describes Elshiva’s efforts to keep in touch with them: Death stalked the city like a plague, and Elshiva’s daughters felt the need to check every week that the old woman was okay. — Roy Scranton, The New Republic, "A Surreal Story from Baghdad," 2 Mar. 2018 Sometimes the most unlikely romances can surprise us as the most affecting and tender. — Esquire, "And the Best Picture Should Be...," 23 Feb. 2018 But perhaps the most affecting words have come from the students and teachers who have survived these horrific acts of firearm brutality—and on Saturday, those words came from Emma Gonzalez, a student at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school. — Jennifer Lance, Glamour, "Florida Student Emma Gonzalez Delivered This Powerful Speech Demanding Gun Control Reform," 18 Feb. 2018 Perhaps the most affecting memory is that of civil rights leader Xernona Clayton, who recalls taking out her powder compact to disguise the clumsy work of the mortician on King's face, when his body lay in state at Spelman College. — David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, "'King in the Wilderness': Film Review | Sundance 2018," 23 Jan. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'affecting.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.