affecting

American  

[uh-fek-ting] / əˈfɛk tɪŋ /

adjective

1. moving or exciting the feelings or emotions.

   Synonyms:

   piteous, pathetic, touching, stirring

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affecting British  

/ əˈfɛktɪŋ /

adjective

1. evoking feelings of pity, sympathy, or pathos; moving

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Other Word Forms

• affectingly
  adverb
• nonaffecting
  adjective
• nonaffectingly
  adverb
• unaffecting
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of affecting

First recorded in 1555–65; affect ¹ + -ing ²

Explanation

If the final scene has you sniffling and reaching for the Kleenex, the movie you’re watching could be described as affecting, meaning it makes you emotional. You might be familiar with the noun affect, which refers to a feeling or emotion. Affecting is just the adjective form of that word — so you can probably guess that it describes things that provoke strong feelings or emotions. You might watch an affecting basketball game, for example, or see an affecting performance of a play. The feeling caused by something affecting can be good or bad, happy or sad. The key is that it stirs up a strong feeling.

Example Sentences

Affecting an estimated 8,000 people worldwide, SPS is a neurological disease caused by the signals from the nerves to the muscles not working properly.

From BBC • Mar. 30, 2026

Affecting approximately 200,000 Americans annually, AMD is a major cause of blindness in people over 50.

From Science Daily • Dec. 3, 2024

Affecting as it all is, some may find several moments uncomfortably candid.

From Los Angeles Times • Oct. 12, 2022

Affecting between 30 and 80% of patients, per the McGill University in Quebec, smell loss is frightening and isolating for anyone — let alone someone whose livelihood relies on these deeply intertwined senses.

From Salon • Mar. 19, 2022

Affecting a wish to catch the packet for England, he drove hastily to the Pigeon House; but the vessel had already sailed.

From Sir Jasper Carew His Life and Experience by Lever, Charles James

Related Words

• poignant
• stirring
• touching