affecting 1 of 3

adjective

ə-ˈfek-tiŋ How to pronounce affecting (audio)
Definition of affectingnext
as in emotional
having the power to affect the feelings or sympathies the affecting final scene in the play, when the children are reunited with their father

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

affecting

2 of 3

verb (1)

present participle of affect
1
as in influencing
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in concerning
to be the business or affair of fortunately, hurricane season doesn't affect the West Coast

Synonyms & Similar Words

affecting

3 of 3

verb (2)

present participle of affect
1
as in simulating
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 haunting
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 is the word affecting distinct from other similar adjectives?

Some common synonyms of affecting are impressive, moving, pathetic, poignant, and touching. While all these words mean "having the power to produce deep emotion," affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

When might impressive be a better fit than affecting?

The synonyms impressive and affecting are sometimes interchangeable, but impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

When is it sensible to use moving instead of affecting?

Although the words moving and affecting have much in common, moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

When could pathetic be used to replace affecting?

While the synonyms pathetic and affecting are close in meaning, pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

When is poignant a more appropriate choice than affecting?

The meanings of poignant and affecting largely overlap; however, poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

When would touching be a good substitute for affecting?

In some situations, the words touching and affecting are roughly equivalent. However, touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

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 affecting
Adjective
Each emotional beat arrives with soft footsteps, and is all the more affecting for it. — Literary Hub, 16 Apr. 2026 But the most affecting moment – both in song and on the album – comes at the end, with Bono singing a capella, his voice catching on the final lines as the song ends cold. — Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
In both cases, the Supreme Court intervened to establish a uniform national rule on issues affecting numerous Americans. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 31 Aug. 2026 The crash and shutdown are affecting the main southbound lanes and backups stretch to Broward County. — Miami Herald Staff, Miami Herald, 31 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for affecting
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affecting
  1. emotional
  2. influencing
  3. concerning
  4. simulating
  5. haunting
  6. impressive
  7. impacting
  8. involving
Adjective
  • Rather than just a reproductive issue, endometriosis is a whole-body condition, affecting everything from emotional regulation to hormone production and gut health.
    — Bella Webb, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The song, famously written by Parton as an emotional farewell to her mentor Porter Wagoner and his show, topped the country chart in 1974.
    — Charisma Madarang, Rolling Stone, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of emotional
Verb
  • More of their money is flowing toward influencing local elections, according to the data.
    — Nick Penzenstadler, USA Today, 31 Aug. 2026
  • The tropical disturbance influencing Sunday's forecast is expected to move west, dropping the probability of weather violating launch criteria to about 30% — offering a 70% chance of acceptable conditions.
    — Josh Dinner, Space.com, 29 Aug. 2026
Definition of influencing
Verb
  • One of the fears concerning AI in fiction filmmaking is that the medium of cinema could lose the value of the empathic connection people have with other humans.
    — Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 31 Aug. 2026
  • More concerning memory problems may involve difficulty retaining new information in the first place, like repeatedly asking a question without remembering the answer.
    — Danielle Zickl, HEALTH, 31 Aug. 2026
Definition of concerning
Verb
  • The $31 billion spending program Taipei unveiled is one of a number of efforts to respond, such as expanding live-fire exercises to include the use of first-person view drones and simulating a maritime blockade.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 21 Aug. 2026
  • My own view is that the bill should have more restrictive testing requirements around edge cases—for instance, simulating power outages or major emergencies—before driverless vehicles can be deployed.
    — Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of simulating
Verb
  • In one extended sequence, Delaney just wanders his lonely apartment, the ghost of his wife already haunting the place.
    — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 28 Aug. 2026
  • The Sound and the Fury The Compson family, their struggles, and their haunting legacies are at the center of this shattering, stream-of-consciousness marvel by William Faulkner.
    — Caroline Rogers, Southern Living, 22 Aug. 2026
Definition of haunting
Adjective
  • The most impressive trick Paranormal Activity pulls off is making an entire theater — devotees and newcomers alike — afraid to look away, and giving them one hell of a good time while doing it.
    — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The ingredients are impressive, but the shopper reviews are even better.
    — Reece Andavolgyi, InStyle, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of impressive
Verb
  • Steam tunnel work, a Greenbelt improvement project and a parking lot repaving are impacting the routes students and staff can use to get to class — whether by car, bike, scooter or foot.
    — Becca Savransky, Idaho Statesman, 25 Aug. 2026
  • Check your credit report for errors Review your credit reports with all three credit bureaus for any errors that could be negatively impacting you.
    — Dan Avery, CNBC, 25 Aug. 2026
Definition of impacting
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
  • After a four-year absence from British television following a horror crash involving former host Andrew Flintoff, the BBC said that work is underway on a new season.
    — Jake Kanter, Deadline, 27 Aug. 2026
Definition of involving

Browse Nearby Words

affectedness
affecting
affection
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

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

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