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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affects
Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Sep. 2025
Cancer affects individuals differently, but is life-changing for everyone.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
It’s believed that some form of hair loss—whether brought on by cancer treatments, stress, postpartum hormonal changes, or a health condition like alopecia—affects 50% of women in America.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
The study involved 198 adults with generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, a disabling form of anxiety that affects about 1 in 10 people over the course of a year.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
Both offer distinctive depictions of minority experiences in America, and in the process, ask probing questions about how media affects our perceptions of each other.
—Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
That affects some things, right?
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
But this in charity affects people’s generosity.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Cancer affects individuals differently, but is life-changing for everyone.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Verb
Diabetes is a common condition that affects about 38 million people in the United States, and nearly 95% of those diabetes cases are type 2 diabetes.
—Sherri Gordon, Health, 7 Sep. 2025
Cancer affects individuals differently, but is life-changing for everyone.
—Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 6 Sep. 2025
It’s believed that some form of hair loss—whether brought on by cancer treatments, stress, postpartum hormonal changes, or a health condition like alopecia—affects 50% of women in America.
—Margaux Anbouba, Vogue, 5 Sep. 2025
The study involved 198 adults with generalized anxiety disorder, or GAD, a disabling form of anxiety that affects about 1 in 10 people over the course of a year.
—Jon Hamilton, NPR, 5 Sep. 2025
Both offer distinctive depictions of minority experiences in America, and in the process, ask probing questions about how media affects our perceptions of each other.
—Douglas Markowitz, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
That affects some things, right?
—Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 5 Sep. 2025
But this in charity affects people’s generosity.
—Jason Phillips, USA Today, 5 Sep. 2025
Cancer affects individuals differently, but is life-changing for everyone.
—Meredith Kile, PEOPLE, 4 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affects. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.
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