1
as in influences
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
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in involves
to be the business or affair of
fortunately, hurricane season doesn't affect the West Coast
Synonyms & Similar Words
1
as in simulates
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 haunts
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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Recent Examples of affects
Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that originates in the retina and usually affects children under the age of 4, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
The lack of consistent standards also affects caregivers and reputable providers.
—Jake Krilovich, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that progresses over time and affects movement, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
The rule disproportionately affects Latino communities, advocates say, which represent 86% of people living in mixed-status families nationwide.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Mastectomies are lifesaving surgeries that remove a patient’s breasts to treat breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 American women over their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society.
—CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
For example, Angelman syndrome affects the same chromosome but involves the mother’s genes instead of the father’s.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 9 Apr. 2026
The weather advisory affects areas across the Sierra Nevada, including the cities of Quincy, Chester and Blue Canyon.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Verb
Parkinson’s disease most commonly affects older adults, with the average age of onset in the early to mid-60s.
—Angelica Stabile, FOXNews.com, 12 Apr. 2026
Retinoblastoma is a rare eye cancer that originates in the retina and usually affects children under the age of 4, according to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
—Kimberlee Speakman, PEOPLE, 12 Apr. 2026
The lack of consistent standards also affects caregivers and reputable providers.
—Jake Krilovich, Boston Herald, 12 Apr. 2026
Parkinson's disease is a neurological disorder that progresses over time and affects movement, according to the Parkinson's Foundation.
—Doha Madani, NBC news, 12 Apr. 2026
The rule disproportionately affects Latino communities, advocates say, which represent 86% of people living in mixed-status families nationwide.
—Laura Turbay, Chicago Tribune, 11 Apr. 2026
Mastectomies are lifesaving surgeries that remove a patient’s breasts to treat breast cancer, which affects 1 in 8 American women over their lifetimes, according to the American Cancer Society.
—CNN Money, 11 Apr. 2026
For example, Angelman syndrome affects the same chromosome but involves the mother’s genes instead of the father’s.
—Brandi Jones, Health, 9 Apr. 2026
The weather advisory affects areas across the Sierra Nevada, including the cities of Quincy, Chester and Blue Canyon.
—Hector Amezcua, Sacbee.com, 9 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affects. Accessed 13 Apr. 2026.
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