AFFECTS Synonyms: 136 Similar and Opposite Words

affects 1 of 2

verb (1)

present tense third-person singular of affect

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

as in involves

to be the business or affair of fortunately, hurricane season doesn't affect the West Coast

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affects

2 of 2

verb (2)

present tense third-person singular of affect

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

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

Verb

The loss of revenue is enormous and affects the entire audiovisual industry ecosystem. — Marcelo Cajueiro, Variety, 12 Oct. 2026 Visceral fat, which sits deep inside the abdomen wrapped around internal organs, affects metabolism and influences insulin resistance. — Sadie Chafe, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026 For example, heavy elements are better at absorbing heat from the core, which affects the size of a star’s convective layer. — Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026 In 2022, Dion was diagnosed with stiff-person syndrome (SPS), an autoimmune neurological disorder that affects about one in a million people and has no cure. — Andrea Flores, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026 The recall affects 4-ounce bottles packaged inside boxes with oral syringes. — Sacbee.com, 8 Oct. 2026 Some, including the Idaho Potato Commission, swear that the way a baked potato is opened affects the texture, eschewing a knife for a fork to gently poke a plus sign into the surface. — Rebecca Firkser, Bon Appetit Magazine, 8 Oct. 2026 The suspension affects a process through which US employers must demonstrate that hiring a foreign worker will not adversely affect wages or job opportunities for American workers. — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 8 Oct. 2026 Closing schools destabilizes communities and disproportionately affects students facing barriers. — Claire Malon, Chicago Tribune, 8 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affects

Verb

Kevin Mohatt | Reuters The Supreme Court heard a major case this week concerning an Intel retirement plan which could result in a decision that influences employers' appetite for private investments in 401(k)s.

— Cheryl Winokur Munk, CNBC, 10 Oct. 2026
AthenaZero is part of a more comprehensive research effort to understand how a robot’s physical construction influences its ability to manipulate objects.

— Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 10 Oct. 2026

Definition of influences

Verb

Indiana has served as CARE’s administrative operations core, while Michigan has led the group’s longitudinal clinical study, which involves dozens of other universities.

— Daniel Libit, Sportico.com, 12 Oct. 2026
Biomimicry involves borrowing ideas from nature to solve engineering problems.

— Maryna Holovnova, New Atlas, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of involves

Verb

Ray tracing is a rendering technique that simulates how light travels and interacts with surfaces to produce realistic lighting, reflections, and shadows.

— Aman Kumar, Encyclopedia Britannica, 30 Sep. 2026
Here, what lies indoors simulates the beauty of the natural world.

— Carrie Honaker, Condé Nast Traveler, 8 Sep. 2026

Definition of simulates

Verb

These can profoundly affect our orbiting satellites and power grid, so understanding the sun’s magnetic activity actually very much impacts us here on Earth.

— Phil Plait, Scientific American, 9 Oct. 2026
This inequity not only impacts women psychologically, but physically.

— Georgia Casey, Allure, 9 Oct. 2026

Definition of impacts

Verb

Everyone pretends the films were chosen purely on merit, but the slate often reads Hollywood with a lanyard and a conscience.

— Joseph Kahn, HollywoodReporter, 8 Oct. 2026
Here, sometimes you get invited to dinner very quickly, and then, two years later, the person pretends not to know you anymore on the street.

— Baptiste Mandrillon, Time, 7 Oct. 2026

Definition of pretends

Verb

CMOs should be working with their public relations colleagues to strengthen the brand narrative by creating opportunities for earned media coverage in those outlets that are feeding the LLMs the target audience frequents.

— Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 8 Sep. 2026
The restrictions will be typically attached to signposts and buildings, Romano said, especially frequents around high-volume student residences.

— Grace Zokovitch, Boston Herald, 28 Aug. 2026