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

Our work has documented how lack of access to accurate and affirming identification documents affects the health and well-being of this community. —Noelle Martin, The Conversation, 1 Mar. 2026

Of course this affects his finances, and his ability to buy a home. —The Week Uk, TheWeek, 1 Mar. 2026

And this affects my whole family. —Jim Defede, CBS News, 1 Mar. 2026

Breast cancer most commonly affects older women. —Reyna Huff, San Diego Union-Tribune, 28 Feb. 2026

Subaru estimates that the recall affects 100% of the models mentioned. —Greta Cross, USA Today, 27 Feb. 2026

Your body’s circadian rhythm affects your sleep quality and daytime energy levels. —Carrie Madormo, Verywell Health, 26 Feb. 2026

The dense fog advisory also affects communities including Fresno, Merced, Kerman, Sanger, Selma, Tulare and Visalia. —Don Sweeney, Sacbee.com, 26 Feb. 2026

Bacterial vaginosis affects about one in three women. —Alexa Mikhail, Flow Space, 26 Feb. 2026