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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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

As an independent woman of the time, Ware was the subject of gossip, and the treatment of her body shows how social class affects even the honoring of the dead. — Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026 When a savings affects a critical control, explain what changes. — Aliasgar Dohadwala, Forbes.com, 26 Oct. 2026 How the Fed affects your money The Fed's benchmark interest rate determines what banks charge one another for overnight loans. — Jessica Dickler, CNBC, 26 Oct. 2026 Race affects how pop groups are marketed, and this in turn shapes what kinds of expression are seen as racially appropriate. — Literary Hub, 26 Oct. 2026 Leprosy, also known as Hansen's disease, is a chronic bacterial infection that primarily affects the skin, nerves and eyes. — Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 26 Oct. 2026 By some estimates, trypophobia affects roughly one in six people. — Gabriela Galvin, Scientific American, 26 Oct. 2026 Even before the Clancy trial began, the forensic psychiatrist Susan Hatters-Friedman pointed out to me how quickly the discourse around the case had turned to postpartum psychosis, a rare disorder that affects about one in a thousand new mothers. — Anja Aronowsky Cronberg, New Yorker, 24 Oct. 2026 The virus primarily affects livestock Shamonda virus was first identified in cattle in Nigeria in 1965, according to WHO. — Deidre McPhillips, CNN Money, 23 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affects

Verb

Reliability also influences the obligations that an AI system must perform following the production of an answer.

— Ethan Stone, Sacbee.com, 22 Oct. 2026
Feel aside, a mattress also influences the look and proportions of your bedroom.

— Nashia Baker, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of influences

Verb

The program involves the city offering incentives to developers to construct housing that is needed in the city, according to city officials.

— Marc Hayot, Arkansas Online, 27 Oct. 2026
One story involves an innocent coal miner, condemned to death in 1877, who left a handprint in his cell at the Carbon County Jail that no amount of sanding or paint has been able to erase.

— Marcus Librizzi, The Conversation, 26 Oct. 2026

Definition of involves

Verb

Macy’s Herald Square reimagined Santaland simulates a journey on the North Star Express to the North Pole, and offers extended time with Santa, expedited entries, and gifts.

— David Moin, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026
In turn, Philippine authorities temporarily banned GoreBox, a sandbox-style action game that simulates violence and destruction using weapons.

— Chad de Guzman, Time, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of simulates

Verb

Daniels will play Raymond Lesko, an infamous NYPD detective, currently working a hotel security gig after being thrown off the force for taking revenge following the murder of his ex-partner, who still haunts him to this day.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 19 Oct. 2026
Swift haunts Johnson from beyond the grave, and towards the end, a wedding portrait can be seen beside her tombstone.

— Hannah Malach, InStyle, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of haunts

Verb

The yield that directly impacts the equity market, and the yield that directly impacts borrowing rates for most consumers and even small businesses.

— , CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
Your divorce is difficult and disruptive for them as well and can cause workforce turnover that impacts the business.

— Catherine Shanahan, Forbes.com, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of impacts

Verb

Kurt's key takeaways What concerns me most is how much someone can learn about you without ever meeting you.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 22 Oct. 2026
One such puzzle concerns the origin of uncertainty, chance and probability, which are so central to quantum mechanics.

— Philipp Strasberg, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of concerns

Verb

Directed by Kim Han-gyul, the film is an adaptation of 2012 Swedish film Cockpit about a pilot who pretends to be his own younger sister after being fired from his job.

— Liz Shackleton, Deadline, 10 Oct. 2026
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

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