AFFECTING Synonyms: 169 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

affecting 1 of 3

adjective

ə-ˈfek-tiŋ

Definition of affecting next

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

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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

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

Examples 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

Indeed, among the movie’s more affecting scenes are those in which Fegan’s victims are clearly moved to meet the real Tegan, despite — or perhaps because of — the humiliating experiences that (sort of) involved her. —

Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 25 Oct. 2024 One of the most affecting and moldable cinematic templates, found footage movies soared in popularity following The Blair Witch Project’s debut 25 years ago — but the subgenre had already been percolating for nearly 40 years before that. —

Declan Gallagher, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2024

Verb

The Die Hard actor is battling frontotemporal dementia (FTD), which can cause the lobes in the brain to shrink, affecting behavior, language, and more, according to Mayo Clinic. —

George Monastiriakos, Newsweek, 30 Dec. 2024 The gaming industry has been in deep recession for a little over a year, with mass layoffs still affecting larger studios and many profitable indie studios due to shut down by the end of the year. —

Rebecca Liao, Forbes, 30 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for affecting

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affecting

Adjective

Then the shelter shared the emotional news that the two little dogs went home with the woman.

Simone Jasper, Miami Herald, 6 Jan. 2025
If what men really need is emotional connection, though, this sort of communication can amount to empty calories.

Matthew Schnipper, The Atlantic, 6 Jan. 2025