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
Meanwhile, Georgi was very affectionate toward his wife all evening long, something both Stacey and Florian were not used to seeing.
—
Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
His daughter, Willa (the luminous Chase Infiniti, in her first film), is affectionate but short with him.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
In Schorr’s photograph, the duo, played by Julia Garner and Cole Escola, is more ambiguous, more gender-flouting, projecting an air of affectionate defiance.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
However, when given affectionate touch from their partner, these feelings significantly reduced.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 22 Sep. 2025
His daughter, Willa (the luminous Chase Infiniti, in her first film), is affectionate but short with him.
—David Sims, The Atlantic, 18 Sep. 2025
In Schorr’s photograph, the duo, played by Julia Garner and Cole Escola, is more ambiguous, more gender-flouting, projecting an air of affectionate defiance.
—The New Yorker, New Yorker, 15 Sep. 2025
However, when given affectionate touch from their partner, these feelings significantly reduced.
—Mark Travers, Forbes.com, 11 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affectionate
Adjective
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Set to debut on the streamer on January 9, 2026, the film follows free-spirited Poppy (Bader) and routine-loving Alex (Blyth), who have been unlikely best friends for a decade, living in different cities but spending every summer vacation together.—
Matt Grobar,
Deadline,
30 Sep. 2025
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According to the rescue, Cody has shown himself to be a gentle and loving dog who thrives on human companionship.—
Alice Gibbs,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Sep. 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 6 Oct. 2025.
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