affective
adjective
af·fec·tive
a-ˈfek-tiv 
1
: relating to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions : emotional
cognitive and affective symptoms
the novel's affective death scene
2
: expressing emotion
affective language
behaviors that elicit affective reactions
affectively
adverb
Examples of affective in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The children of this era would go on to lead the next affective era in the form of the 1960s—which in many ways were a fight against this boredom, a call to reclaim the excitement of communalism, of revolution, of queerness and chaos.
—
P.e. Moskowitz
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The review argues that affective touch (gentle and emotionally attuned physical contact) is a fundamental mechanism through which close relationships influence health and well-being.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The stories of those characters—particularly the aunt—are incredibly affective and beautifully realized.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
This study may help explain why the medications work and could inspire new non-addictive treatments for affective pain disorders, the researchers say.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for affective
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P.e. Moskowitz
september 11, Literary Hub, 11 Sep. 2025
The review argues that affective touch (gentle and emotionally attuned physical contact) is a fundamental mechanism through which close relationships influence health and well-being.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 9 Sep. 2025
The stories of those characters—particularly the aunt—are incredibly affective and beautifully realized.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 20 Aug. 2025
This study may help explain why the medications work and could inspire new non-addictive treatments for affective pain disorders, the researchers say.
—Noah Lyons, San Diego Union-Tribune, 15 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for affective
Cite this Entry
“Affective.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affective. Accessed 15 Sep. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
affective
adjective
af·fec·tive
a-ˈfek-tiv
: relating to, arising from, or influencing feelings or emotions : emotional
affective symptoms
affectively
adverb
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