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
Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
How the war affects the overall state and national economies remains to be seen, with economists not in agreement.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
That is an enormous sum at a time when many of our cities are struggling with homelessness, which affects many veterans who once served this country.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The researchers behind the new study had previously found that climate change affects day length, as rising ocean levels—caused by the melting glaciers and the dwindling polar ice sheets—affect Earth’s spin.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
The agency also faces restrictions on dynamic scoring — the practice of modeling how a policy change ripples through the broader economy — for any measure that affects fewer than 1 million people.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
El Niño also affects regional weather patterns around the world.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026
The technical execution of the project is thrilling, and so is the show’s depiction of how modern media affects the minds and actions of teenage boys.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
The Hobbs Act is a federal law prohibiting robbery that affects interstate or foreign commerce.
—Nick Sullivan
march 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2026
Verb
What follows is how a rise in oil prices affects us.
—Allen Buchanan, Oc Register, 14 Mar. 2026
How the war affects the overall state and national economies remains to be seen, with economists not in agreement.
—Los Angeles Times, 13 Mar. 2026
That is an enormous sum at a time when many of our cities are struggling with homelessness, which affects many veterans who once served this country.
—Chicago Tribune, 13 Mar. 2026
The researchers behind the new study had previously found that climate change affects day length, as rising ocean levels—caused by the melting glaciers and the dwindling polar ice sheets—affect Earth’s spin.
—Claire Cameron, Scientific American, 13 Mar. 2026
The agency also faces restrictions on dynamic scoring — the practice of modeling how a policy change ripples through the broader economy — for any measure that affects fewer than 1 million people.
—Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 13 Mar. 2026
El Niño also affects regional weather patterns around the world.
—Lauren Sommer, NPR, 12 Mar. 2026
The technical execution of the project is thrilling, and so is the show’s depiction of how modern media affects the minds and actions of teenage boys.
—Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 7 Mar. 2026
The Hobbs Act is a federal law prohibiting robbery that affects interstate or foreign commerce.
—Nick Sullivan
march 7, Charlotte Observer, 7 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Affects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affects. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.
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