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
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Recent Examples of affects
ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
That shift affects the bottom line because regional sports networks paid teams fees for the rights to carry their games, leaving some teams scrambling to make up revenue, with the Cardinals in particular missing out on as much as $20 million, Sports Business Journal reported.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
Exposure to phthalates affects sperm quality, chances of conception, ovulation function, and the risk of miscarriage.
—Shanna Swan, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
As if that wasn’t enough, declining kidney function also affects your body’s ability to activate vitamin D internally—and low vitamin D also hurts your calcium levels, since the vitamin mediates calcium absorption.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 27 Mar. 2026
One of our team members plans to use their new experimental lab to explore how oxygen availability in magma affects the abundance of trivalent titanium in ilmenite.
—Emily First, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
This is a significant consideration for anyone who is already thinking carefully about how taxable income in retirement affects their overall financial picture.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Nagata has also studied how compulsive use of social media affects kids' mental health.
—Carmel Wroth, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
While oil that traverses the strait is usually bound for Asia and other places rather than North America, the chaos still affects the United States.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Verb
The ban affects Christian neighborhoods in Damascus that are famous for their restaurants and pubs.
—ABC News, 28 Mar. 2026
That shift affects the bottom line because regional sports networks paid teams fees for the rights to carry their games, leaving some teams scrambling to make up revenue, with the Cardinals in particular missing out on as much as $20 million, Sports Business Journal reported.
—Andrew Greif, NBC news, 28 Mar. 2026
Exposure to phthalates affects sperm quality, chances of conception, ovulation function, and the risk of miscarriage.
—Shanna Swan, New York Daily News, 27 Mar. 2026
As if that wasn’t enough, declining kidney function also affects your body’s ability to activate vitamin D internally—and low vitamin D also hurts your calcium levels, since the vitamin mediates calcium absorption.
—Caroline Tien, SELF, 27 Mar. 2026
One of our team members plans to use their new experimental lab to explore how oxygen availability in magma affects the abundance of trivalent titanium in ilmenite.
—Emily First, The Conversation, 27 Mar. 2026
This is a significant consideration for anyone who is already thinking carefully about how taxable income in retirement affects their overall financial picture.
—Allison Palmer, Kansas City Star, 27 Mar. 2026
Nagata has also studied how compulsive use of social media affects kids' mental health.
—Carmel Wroth, NPR, 27 Mar. 2026
While oil that traverses the strait is usually bound for Asia and other places rather than North America, the chaos still affects the United States.
—Nicholas Riccardi, Chicago Tribune, 21 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affects. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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