as in loving
feeling or showing love
an affectionate child who gives hugs and kisses freely
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affectionate
In October, the pair shared affectionate posts online, including a photo together that fueled speculation about their relationship.
—
Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 27 Dec. 2025
The news was especially jarring because Reiner’s relationship with his own famous father had always seemed so enviably affectionate.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
When the lights finally dimmed 45 minutes later, Safdie took the front of the theater after an affectionate introduction from Sacco, giving a somewhat bemused apology about the delay before diving into his remarks.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
Kaylee is known to be caring and affectionate.
—The Star, Kansas City Star, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
Jessica Lynch, Billboard, 27 Dec. 2025
The news was especially jarring because Reiner’s relationship with his own famous father had always seemed so enviably affectionate.
—Alexandra Schwartz, New Yorker, 17 Dec. 2025
When the lights finally dimmed 45 minutes later, Safdie took the front of the theater after an affectionate introduction from Sacco, giving a somewhat bemused apology about the delay before diving into his remarks.
—Elaina Patton, IndieWire, 17 Dec. 2025
Kaylee is known to be caring and affectionate.
—The Star, Kansas City Star, 13 Dec. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectionate
Adjective
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And boy, do those practice dishes look delicious under Doyle’s loving lens.—
Katie Rife,
IndieWire,
5 Nov. 2025
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So loving so tender, so, so smart.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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The Patriots’ pass coverage without Christian Gonzalez, their atrocious inside linebacker play and roller-coaster special teams, which give any adoring fan a heart attack at a moment’s notice.—
Andrew Callahan,
Boston Herald,
16 Sep. 2025
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Chicharito also benefitted from his market placement in LA, in his case mainly due to the proximity to an adoring Mexican fanbase throughout Southern California.—
Ian Nicholas Quillen,
Forbes.com,
20 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affectionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affectionate. Accessed 8 Jan. 2026.
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