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

Though EoE was once considered rare, experts now estimate the condition affects roughly 1 in 2,000 people, according to Hassenfeld Children's Hospital. —Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 24 May 2026

The move affects Scotch more directly but still affects bourbon’s export opportunities and its competitive set on American back bars and retail shelves. —Joseph V Micallef, Forbes.com, 24 May 2026

The Zephyr’s collapse also affects Rocky Mountain High grad Kelsey Oyler (2021), who played in 27 of 28 games as a rookie this past season, including 22 starts. —Idaho Statesman, 24 May 2026

The low-hire job market negatively affects students as a whole, but international students have to navigate additional barriers, such as temporary work authorizations, Ford says. —Jennifer Liu, CNBC, 24 May 2026

While teachers unions have gotten the most attention, the law also affects many other public sector unions, including those that represent bus drivers, janitors, cafeteria workers and maintenance workers. —Scott Travis, Sun Sentinel, 24 May 2026

The condition affects children's development, and may cause difficulties with movement, speech, reading or writing. —Kerry Breen, CBS News, 23 May 2026

The lack of clarity affects consumer trust in the process and affects the credibility of brands. —Felysha Walker, Miami Herald, 22 May 2026

Simply replacing property taxes with sales taxes affects low-income residents more, hurts renters and makes the tax base more volatile since revenues are directly impacted by economic cycles. —Amanda Nothaft, The Conversation, 22 May 2026