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Synonyms

affecting

American  
[uh-fek-ting] / əˈfɛk tɪŋ /

adjective

  1. moving or exciting the feelings or emotions.

    Synonyms:
    piteous, pathetic, pathetic, touching, stirring
affecting British  
/ əˈfɛktɪŋ /

adjective

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

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

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

Etymology

Origin of affecting

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

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.

On top of looking for strong financial results, DoorDash shareholders will also be looking for any updates the company gives on its latest investment plans, including how that spending is affecting its margins.

From Barron's

An NHS England spokesman said the problem was affecting supply globally.

From BBC

Dementia is the leading cause of death in the UK, affecting around one million people.

From Science Daily

Osako said budget challenges were caused not by academic programs but instead “reflect broader institutional and external factors affecting higher education.”

From Los Angeles Times

Such genetic damage may increase the likelihood of cancers affecting the central nervous system, digestive tract, and blood-forming tissues.

From Science Daily

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.