Synonyms of affects

affects 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of affect

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

• influences
• impacts
• impresses
• touches
• strikes
• reaches
• inspires
• sways
• involves
• interests
• tells (on)
• bothers
• moves
• gets to
• disturbs
• attracts
• fascinates
• concerns
• penetrates
• dazzles
• afflicts
• plagues
• troubles
• carries away
• worries
• engages
• perturbs
• stirs
• biases
• upsets
• entrances
• colors
• transports
• enchants
• pierces
• stresses
• enraptures
• ravishes
• distresses
• harasses
• tries
• enthralls
• captivates
• smites
• agitates
• disquiets
• charms
• wrings
• pesters
• flusters
• bewitches
• discomposes
• harries
• allures
• discomforts
• strains

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• bores
• wearies
• tires
• palls
• jades
• underwhelms

2

as in involves

to be the business or affair of

fortunately, hurricane season doesn't affect the West Coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

• involves
• concerns
• touches
• relates (to)
• applies (to)
• pertains (to)
• refers (to)
• bears (on)
• implicates
• appertains (to)
• ensnares
• embroils
• entangles

affects

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of affect

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

• simulates
• pretends
• assumes
• acts
• passes (for)
• feigns
• professes
• makes believe
• conceals
• poses
• dissembles
• plays
• puts on
• counterfeits
• forges
• imitates
• bluffs
• shams
• fakes
• camouflages
• masquerades
• dissimulates
• impersonates
• masks
• lets on
• disguises
• playacts
• malingers
• feints

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

• haunts
• frequents
• visits
• hangs (at)
• resorts (to)
• habituates
• invades
• infests
• attends
• runs (in)
• patronizes
• calls (on or upon)
• camps (out in)
• stops (by or in)
• takes in
• overruns
• stays (at)
• stops (over)
• drops in
• drops by
• pops (in)
• swarms
• tarries (in)
• sojourns (at)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• avoids
• shuns
• escapes
• shakes
• eludes
• evades
• eschews
• ducks
• dodges

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of affects

Verb

After all, the war has left its mark on their bodies and minds, which affects their family lives. — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 7 Nov. 2026

That trade-off matters in a long-range EV, where carrying more battery weight affects the vehicle’s design, while a stationary installation has more flexibility. — Atharva Gosavi, Interesting Engineering, 7 Nov. 2026

An account’s existence does not establish how frequently someone uses it or whether the activity affects their finances. — Artem Lalaiants, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

Keep copies of imaging, specialist reports and notes on how the injury affects work and daily life. — Reputio, New York Daily News, 6 Nov. 2026

Unsuitable clothing affects comfort, concentration, and the smooth running of daily operations. — Allison Anderson, MSNBC Newsweek, 6 Nov. 2026

Hodgkin lymphoma is a cancer that affects the lymphatic system, according to Mayo Clinic. — Madison E. Goldberg, PEOPLE, 5 Nov. 2026

Rabies is a viral disease that affects the nervous system and can be fatal in humans if treatment is not received before symptoms develop. — Daniel Hunt, Sacbee.com, 3 Nov. 2026

As a carbohydrate, squash—both acorn and spaghetti—affects blood sugar levels, but the effect depends on portion size, what else is in the meal, and your individual glucose response. — Amy Brownstein, Verywell Health, 2 Nov. 2026