affecting
Americanadjective
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of affecting
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.
Vocabulary lists containing affecting
Pay Attention! Synonyms for "Interesting"
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Krik? Krak!
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The challenges in Washington were mirrored elsewhere, where holiday celebrations are unfolding under widespread heat alerts affecting roughly a third of the U.S. population.
From Salon • Jul. 4, 2026
The findings suggest that future therapies should focus on the underlying damage affecting the brain's small blood vessels rather than on fatty plaque in larger arteries.
From Science Daily • Jul. 3, 2026
Umm Samir said four of the screws holding Muath's spine in place have come loose and are affecting his breathing.
From BBC • Jul. 2, 2026
However, the plant opening comes amid significant volatility affecting AI-related stocks, driven by growing concerns over the difficulty of making these massive investments profitable.
From Barron's • Jul. 2, 2026
Related to these factors affecting diffusion within continents is a third set of factors influencing diffusion between continents, which may also help build up a local pool of domesticates and technology.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
