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
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
Wendy Wisner, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
The recall affects about 357,000 products in addition to about 3,000 sold in Canada.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Tate had a rare form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic neurological disorder that affects the nerves that control the muscles.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Systemic scleroderma rarely affects younger people, says Kassandra's mom, but fortunately, her doctors caught the symptoms early; she was officially diagnosed in 2018.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
As a condition that affects the nervous system, MS can impact patients’ lives in myriad ways and via numerous triggers, sunlight being one that’s especially inconvenient.
—Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2025
Geographical testing reveals where solar windows work best The research also explored how location affects the performance of these solar windows.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
There are also troubling allegations that are just another example of players now taking money on the side that affects the final outcome.
—Mac Engel
october 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Previous studies, however, have indicated that high sugar intake can trigger inflammation that affects brain chemistry.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Verb
Endometriosis affects about 10% of people who have periods.
—Wendy Wisner, Health, 24 Oct. 2025
The recall affects about 357,000 products in addition to about 3,000 sold in Canada.
—Greta Cross, USA Today, 24 Oct. 2025
Tate had a rare form of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease, a genetic neurological disorder that affects the nerves that control the muscles.
—Ethan Shanfeld, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
Systemic scleroderma rarely affects younger people, says Kassandra's mom, but fortunately, her doctors caught the symptoms early; she was officially diagnosed in 2018.
—Zoey Lyttle, PEOPLE, 23 Oct. 2025
As a condition that affects the nervous system, MS can impact patients’ lives in myriad ways and via numerous triggers, sunlight being one that’s especially inconvenient.
—Maggie Ryan, Flow Space, 23 Oct. 2025
Geographical testing reveals where solar windows work best The research also explored how location affects the performance of these solar windows.
—Sujita Sinha, Interesting Engineering, 23 Oct. 2025
There are also troubling allegations that are just another example of players now taking money on the side that affects the final outcome.
—Mac Engel
october 23, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 23 Oct. 2025
Previous studies, however, have indicated that high sugar intake can trigger inflammation that affects brain chemistry.
—Deirdre Bardolf, FOXNews.com, 18 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affects. Accessed 25 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share