affectionate

adjective

Save Word

af·fec·tion·ate | \ ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət

Definition of affectionate

1 : feeling or showing affection or warm regard : loving affectionate friends an affectionate nickname

2 : motivated by affection : tender affectionate care

3 obsolete : inclined, disposed

Other Words from affectionate Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about affectionate

Keep scrolling for more

Synonyms & Antonyms for affectionate

Synonyms

Antonyms

unloving

Examples of affectionate in a Sentence

an affectionate child who gives hugs and kisses freely

Recent Examples on the Web On the contrary, a loved one may be more loving and affectionate than usual this evening. — Tribune Content Agency, oregonlive, "Horoscope for May 5, 2021: Taurus, make wants, needs known; Pisces, keep your dreams alive," 5 May 2021 During the summer of 1992 and beyond, the wrote Diana a series of letters, ranging from the accusatory to the sympathetic and affectionate. — Andrew Morton, Town & Country, "Inside Princess Margaret's Complicated Relationship with Princess Diana," 30 Mar. 2021 For example, a negative emotion can cause a cat to run and hide while a positive emotion of happiness will cause a cat to be more loving and affectionate. — Mckenzie Sadeghi, USA TODAY, "Fact check: Viral meme is inaccurate on cat purrs and emotions," 25 Feb. 2021 Some enjoy their independence, and others might be more needy or affectionate. — Ada Wood, CNN, "Meet the bunnies who helped people survive 2020," 20 Feb. 2021 Still, the one to beat is Hello Pizza (3904 Sunnyside Road, Edina, hellopizza.com), chef/co-owner Ann Kim's affectionate re-creation of the neighborhood slice shop that fed her during her NYC college years. — Rick Nelson, Star Tribune, "From New York to Detroit: 5 regional pizza styles and where to get them in the Twin Cities," 17 Feb. 2021 Orpington’s are known as docile, friendly and affectionate birds. — al, "Teen reunited with pet rooster lost at Alabama Cracker Barrel after Civil War reenactment," 11 Feb. 2021 Even a public square that deliberately quoted the form of a classical Roman plaza, as did Charles Moore’s Piazza d’Italia, was not so much an affectionate re-creation as an ironic parody. — Michael J. Lewis, National Review, "The Death of Public Beauty," 3 Sep. 2020 The previous day, Biles also shared a short video of Owens on her Instagram Story, captioning the clip with a series of affectionate emojis. — Maria Pasquini, PEOPLE.com, "Simone Biles Goes Instagram Official with New Boyfriend, NFL Player Jonathan Owens: 'Just Us'," 2 Aug. 2020

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

History and Etymology for affectionate

partly borrowed from Medieval Latin affectiōnātus "inclined, disposed, well-disposed," from Latin affectiōn-, affectiō affection + -ātus -ate entry 3; partly formed from affection + -ate entry 3 after Middle French affectionné "having affection for," past participle of affectionner "to have affection for," derivative of affection