1
as in strained
lacking in natural or spontaneous quality
affected laughter at the boss's jokes an affected southern accent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in arrogant
self-consciously trying to present an appearance of grandeur or importance
with her pinkie extended, the four-year-old held her tiny teacup in that affected manner that some women have
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in inclined
having a liking or affection
after years of being well affected toward their grandchildren, they did not want to lose access to them because of a bitter divorce
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in influenced
to act upon (a person or a person's feelings) so as to cause a response
their son claims that scary movies don't affect him in the least
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in concerned
to be the business or affair of
fortunately, hurricane season doesn't affect the West Coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in pretended
to present a false appearance of
she affected complete unawareness that we were talking about her, though she must have overheard
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in haunted
to go to or spend time in often
a power couple known to affect all the fancy parties in town
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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show current usage.
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Recent Examples of affected
Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 13 May 2026
One of the emergency water stations that have been operating in Oakland County, providing drinking water to those affected by low or no water pressure after a water main broke on May 10, 2026.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Disney attributes the change to a slight downturn in international visits, but notes domestic and local travel remains strong and does not yet seem affected by rising gas prices.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Then that compensation spread to his hand and eventually affected his grip pressure.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 12 May 2026
That his circumstances have changed doesn’t appear to have affected him as a person, something that has apparently endeared him to his teammates, per quarterback coach Bush Hamdan.
—Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
This has most painfully affected public-school teachers.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Depending on the species and the part of the animals’ bodies that are affected, the disease is sometimes known as rain scald or rain rot, grease heal, and strawberry foot rot.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 11 May 2026
If someone is affected by heat, immediately transfer them to a cool and shaded area.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Verb
Air travel and cruises are also slightly up this year, with most trips booked before fuel prices affected travel costs.
—Kathleen Wong, USA Today, 13 May 2026
One of the emergency water stations that have been operating in Oakland County, providing drinking water to those affected by low or no water pressure after a water main broke on May 10, 2026.
—Paula Wethington, CBS News, 12 May 2026
Disney attributes the change to a slight downturn in international visits, but notes domestic and local travel remains strong and does not yet seem affected by rising gas prices.
—Todd Martens, Los Angeles Times, 12 May 2026
Then that compensation spread to his hand and eventually affected his grip pressure.
—Gabby Herzig, New York Times, 12 May 2026
That his circumstances have changed doesn’t appear to have affected him as a person, something that has apparently endeared him to his teammates, per quarterback coach Bush Hamdan.
—Miami Herald, 12 May 2026
This has most painfully affected public-school teachers.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 12 May 2026
Depending on the species and the part of the animals’ bodies that are affected, the disease is sometimes known as rain scald or rain rot, grease heal, and strawberry foot rot.
—Helen Branswell, STAT, 11 May 2026
If someone is affected by heat, immediately transfer them to a cool and shaded area.
—Ca Weather Bot, Sacbee.com, 11 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affected
Adjective
-
At the same time, reductions in federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program benefits are expected to increase food insecurity among older adults, placing even more pressure on already strained systems.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
-
The Thunder are 8-0 in the postseason despite their second-best player Jalen Williams missing the entirety of the playoffs with a strained hamstring.—
Mike Bianchi,
The Orlando Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Adjective
-
Not even the pork choppers were as arrogant and scornful of voting rights as the current mob.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
11 May 2026
-
Of course, David went on to build one of the most illustrious careers in television with characters who are often arrogant, petty and unlikable by traditional media standards.—
Ethan Shanfeld,
Variety,
8 May 2026
Adjective
-
The authors suggest that because exercise boosts feel-good hormones, such as dopamine, and reduces the stress hormone cortisol, smokers who work out feel less inclined to use nicotine as a brain reward.—
Teresa Mull,
FOXNews.com,
9 May 2026
-
Accessibility There are elevators throughout and inclined ramps to access certain common areas.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
7 May 2026
Verb
-
Emotional exhaustion can be influenced by structural factors, and decision quality is often associated with these conditions in how information is distributed and processed within a system.—
Nia Bowers,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
-
Aya Adachi, an associate fellow at the Center for Geopolitics, Geoeconomics and Technology of the German Council on Foreign Relations, noted that global automotive competition is being gradually influenced by China’s rapid growth in electric vehicle production.—
Justina Lee,
CNBC,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Patients were concerned too, and some asked Hulse what would happen to the new clinic after her team left.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
-
Vets weigh in on why dogs start grazing and when to be concerned.—
Diana Bocco,
USA Today,
15 May 2026
Verb
-
Darryl pretended to be a novice and challenged Tyler to a match, even promising him a new pair of cleats if Tyler won.—
New York Daily News,
New York Daily News,
9 May 2026
-
At least one fan even pretended to kiss the trophy through the glass.—
Peter Warren,
Houston Chronicle,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Rossellini plays the formidable Madame de Noailles, an old-school aristocrat devoted to Marie Antoinette and haunted by a lost love.—
Nick Vivarelli,
Variety,
15 May 2026
-
In among these concurrent stories comes Natalia, played by Smit, a friend of Elsa’s haunted by the sudden death of her young son.—
Lily Ford,
HollywoodReporter,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
The sprawling 85-acre facility used to train Atlanta’s police and firefighters includes a mock gas station, a train track with several rail cars, a firehouse, a horse stable, a seven-story burn tower and a 28-lane indoor shooting range.—
Shaddi Abusaid,
AJC.com,
12 May 2026
-
Adding the appropriate gothic touch to this Debra Hill production are John Lloyd’s dripping-with-mock-Victorian-splendor sets and John Morris’ delightfully tongue-in-cheek score.—
Kirk Ellis,
HollywoodReporter,
12 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affected.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affected. Accessed 17 May. 2026.
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