AFFECT Synonyms: 135 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'affect' contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of affect are assume , counterfeit , feign , pretend , sham , and simulate . While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling. // affected an interest in art

Q: When is 'assume' a more appropriate choice than 'affect'?

The meanings of assume and affect largely overlap; however, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive. // assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

Q: When could 'counterfeit' be used to replace 'affect'?

While in some cases nearly identical to affect , counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words. // an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

Q: How does the word 'feign' relate to other synonyms for 'affect'?

Feign implies more artful invention than pretend , less specific mimicry than simulate . // feigned sickness

Q: When is it sensible to use 'pretend' instead of 'affect'?

The words pretend and affect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance. // pretended that nothing had happened

Q: When would 'sham' be a good substitute for 'affect'?

In some situations, the words sham and affect are roughly equivalent. However, sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible. // shammed a most unconvincing limp

Q: When might 'simulate' be a better fit than 'affect'?

The synonyms simulate and affect are sometimes interchangeable, but simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something. // cosmetics that simulate a suntan

affect 1 of 2

verb (1)

ə-ˈfekt

Definition of affect

as in to influence

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 to involve

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

affect

2 of 2

verb (2)

ˈa-ˌfekt

as in to simulate

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 to haunt

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

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb affect contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of affect are assume, counterfeit, feign, pretend, sham, and simulate. While all these words mean "to put on a false or deceptive appearance," affect implies making a false show of possessing, using, or feeling.

affected an interest in art

When is assume a more appropriate choice than affect?

The meanings of assume and affect largely overlap; however, assume often implies a justifiable motive rather than an intent to deceive.

assumed an air of cheerfulness around the patients

When could counterfeit be used to replace affect?

While in some cases nearly identical to affect, counterfeit implies achieving the highest degree of verisimilitude of any of these words.

an actor counterfeiting drunkenness

How does the word feign relate to other synonyms for affect?

Feign implies more artful invention than pretend, less specific mimicry than simulate.

feigned sickness

When is it sensible to use pretend instead of affect?

The words pretend and affect are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, pretend implies an overt and sustained false appearance.

pretended that nothing had happened

When would sham be a good substitute for affect?

In some situations, the words sham and affect are roughly equivalent. However, sham implies an obvious falseness that fools only the gullible.

shammed a most unconvincing limp

When might simulate be a better fit than affect?

The synonyms simulate and affect are sometimes interchangeable, but simulate suggests a close imitation of the appearance of something.

cosmetics that simulate a suntan

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 affect

Verb

Among the most affected are Hungary’s roughly 27,000 hectares (67,000 acres) of fish ponds. — ABC News, 29 Aug. 2026 More than 90,000 people have been affected by the disaster, according to the Nepal Red Cross. — Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026 The change will start to affect users ten days from now, with the release of the forthcoming September Patch Tuesday. — Zak Doffman, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 However, bad actors may still be able to modify the glasses or tamper with the light without affecting recordings. — Ashley Belanger, ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for affect

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affect

Verb

All 350 potential scenarios are tailor-made, and some are influenced by real events, from both sides of the political divide.

— Will Barker, TheWeek, 26 Aug. 2026
There is a lot of money to be made in the influencing industry.

— Laura Jung, Vogue, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of influence

Verb

Salesforce and other software stocks have perked up over the past month, as sentiment around the group improved for a couple of reasons, including a Reuters report on take-private talks involving HR software provider Workday .

— Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
Some 10 projects will be shown to prospective brand partners for possible development and production, letting companies get involved before projects are fully financed or produced.

— Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of involve

Verb

These allow manufacturers to simulate how fibers blend or how construction adjustments will perform before starting a full production run.

— Arthur Zaczkiewicz, Footwear News, 27 Aug. 2026
And most simulants of lunar material are faithful in their geological characteristics, to simulate the lunar surface and its dust, rather than the precise chemistry within.

— Eric Berger, ArsTechnica, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of simulate

Verb

Just a 15-minute drive from Parkland’s Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, my South Florida childhood was haunted by a quiet, persistent grief.

— Brittany Berlin, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
QAnon haunts Washington I’m particularly fascinated by the ghost of QAnon – how the theory continues to haunt politics today.

— Matthew N. Hannah, The Conversation, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of haunt

Verb

Stewart doesn’t make excuses for missing the targets, even though Goodyear’s business, like many, has been impacted by tariffs, inflated raw material costs, and the expansion of cheaper Chinese products.

— Michael Wayland, CNBC, 29 Aug. 2026
Before Turner, cattle grazing, logging, and mining impacted portions of the property for decades.

— Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of impact

Verb

That's a step in the right direction as far as we're concerned, because Jim Cramer has been after Nvidia to institute an Apple-style stock repurchase strategy.

— Zev Fima, CNBC, 27 Aug. 2026
The artificial-intelligence titan resisted Pentagon demands concerning uses of its technology that included mass surveillance and autonomous lethal weapons.

— Scott M. Curran, Fortune, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of concern

Verb

The two are only able to unlock a new understanding of each other by pretending to be strangers meeting for the first time.

— Ben Rosenstock, Vulture, 28 Aug. 2026
One, a 35-year-old man, pretended to be a San Francisco 49ers player or a wealthy real estate investor, the Department of Justice said.

— Idaho Statesman, Idaho Statesman, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of pretend

Verb

Americans are being warned to avoid parts of an African safari destination where terrorists have targeted upscale lodges frequented by international big-game hunters.

— Andrea Margolis, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026
Together, the family presented a united front at the church once frequented by Queen Elizabeth II.

— Diego Parrado, Vanity Fair, 23 Aug. 2026

Definition of frequent

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affairs

affect

affectation

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“Affect.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affect. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of affect

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Synonyms of affect

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verb (2)

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