AFFECTS Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

affects 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of affect

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

as in involves

to be the business or affair of fortunately, hurricane season doesn't affect the West Coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

affects

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of affect

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

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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of affects

Verb

What to put in an anxiety bag Since anxiety affects everyone differently, Powell suggests choosing items that appeal to you — including those that engage multiple senses, such as taste, touch and smell. — Mary Caldwell, AJC.com, 24 Aug. 2026 The organization says while a lot of work has been accomplished to bring those numbers down, any death in the community is concerning, every loss affects the community. — Spencer Wilson, CBS News, 24 Aug. 2026 But Pluto presents an especially curious case because the stakes for most people are so low — its planetary status hardly affects the general public day-to-day. — Stefanie Waldek, Space.com, 24 Aug. 2026 Their knowledge of the area also affects how the show sounds. — Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 23 Aug. 2026 How trauma affects the brain According to the World Health Organization, approximately 70 percent of people worldwide report experiencing a traumatic event in their lifetime. — Michele Patterson Ford, Scientific American, 22 Aug. 2026 Make the language relevant People need to understand how climate change affects them personally. — Jamil Wyne, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2026 People may love completely different kinds of art, but art affects human beings. — Armstrong Williams, Baltimore Sun, 22 Aug. 2026 Candida auris usually affects patients with severe underlying medical conditions and people with invasive medical devices such as breathing tubes, feeding tubes and catheters, according to the CDC. — Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 21 Aug. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affects

Verb

The right dose, delivered consistently and appropriately, influences outcomes.

— John Graham Harper, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
The pair bonded over their Vietnamese roots, and that shared heritage now influences their entertaining styles.

— Kate McGregor, Architectural Digest, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of influences

Verb

The plot against Zeraati is part of a widening campaign by the Iranian government which involves hiring criminals—Russian mobsters, Hells Angels bikers, and even Swedish teen-agers—to attack its detractors and sow fear among Iranians in exile.

— Cora Engelbrecht, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026
In most companies, updating materials for different regions involves multiple review layers that slow things down.

— Lyssanoel Frater, USA Today, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of involves

Verb

The upcoming 2027 model will also be the first to feature E-Shift, an optional system that simulates the gear shifts of a combustion engine.

— Bryan Hood, Robb Report, 18 Aug. 2026
The offense works on the underneath passing tree while the defense simulates coverage rules and passing off cross-under routes.

— Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 18 Aug. 2026

Definition of simulates

Verb

QAnon haunts Washington I’m particularly fascinated by the ghost of QAnon – how the theory continues to haunt politics today.

— Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026
That what haunts us doesn’t need to harm us, but can instead help guide us through what feels too difficult to negotiate alone.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of haunts

Verb

The disease increasingly impacts non-smoking women, and current screening methods often detect small lung nodules that lack precise, minimally invasive treatment options.

— Geri Stengel, Forbes.com, 21 Aug. 2026
Depression impacts networks in the brain that are involved in mood, motivation, and reward, points out Randy D’Amico, MD, neurosurgeon at Northwell’s Lenox Hill Hospital.

— Korin Miller, Allure, 21 Aug. 2026

Definition of impacts

Verb

Urgent Matter reports that the dispute concerns a preservation easement on the nineteen-story building, Frank Lloyd Wright‘s only skyscraper, completed in 1956, and located forty-five miles north of Tulsa.

— News Desk, Artforum, 19 Aug. 2026
The three-level promoter structure applies regardless of whether the change concerns a new product, new service, or internal process innovation.

— IEEE Spectrum, IEEE Spectrum, 17 Aug. 2026

Definition of concerns

Verb

Because so many of the places that M frequents are luxurious, her sections have the sheen of a life-style magazine.

— Becca Rothfeld, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026
Keep trash cans clean and securely closed, and store them away from porches and other outdoor areas your family frequents.

— Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 1 Aug. 2026