as in loving
feeling or showing love
an affectionate child who gives hugs and kisses freely
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Recent Examples of affectionate
So if Fielder and his team can re-create the conditions in which Achilles was raised, then the dog will surely act like the affectionate creature its owners desire.
—
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 May 2025
Obscenity laws, most aggressively enforced by the U.S. Postal Service, attempted to keep that excitement within bounds—no uncovered or obviously aroused penises, no affectionate or suggestive physical contact.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Goldendoodles, a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, are popular for their affectionate nature, intelligence, and often hypoallergenic coats.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Together, these studies indicate that boys may be especially sensitive to the quality of early caregiving—an argument to both increase social support for families and resist dubious assumptions that boys do not require substantial affectionate nurturing.
—Joshua Coleman, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
Scott Tobias, Vulture, 5 May 2025
Obscenity laws, most aggressively enforced by the U.S. Postal Service, attempted to keep that excitement within bounds—no uncovered or obviously aroused penises, no affectionate or suggestive physical contact.
—Vince Aletti, New Yorker, 3 May 2025
Goldendoodles, a cross between a golden retriever and a poodle, are popular for their affectionate nature, intelligence, and often hypoallergenic coats.
—Lydia Patrick, MSNBC Newsweek, 1 May 2025
Together, these studies indicate that boys may be especially sensitive to the quality of early caregiving—an argument to both increase social support for families and resist dubious assumptions that boys do not require substantial affectionate nurturing.
—Joshua Coleman, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectionate
Adjective
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Soto should, of course, get a loving reception from the Bleacher Creatures on Friday night, no?—
Will Sammon,
New York Times,
16 May 2025
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Tina Knowles remembers growing up in a loving and raucous family of nine.—
Sara Sidner,
CNN Money,
11 May 2025
Adjective
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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
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In some cases, like his calls to deport millions of undocumented immigrants, Mr. Trump has promised changes that many of his most adoring fans in Europe have stopped well short of.—
Jim Tankersley,
New York Times,
23 Jan. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affectionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affectionate. Accessed 23 May. 2025.
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