affecting

[uh-fek-ting]

adjective

1. moving or exciting the feelings or emotions.

   Synonyms: piteous, pathetic, pathetic, touching, stirring

affecting

/ əˈfɛktɪŋ /

adjective

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

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of affecting¹

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

Example Sentences

Mr. Smith recounts his 14 years leading the players union, from 2009 to 2023, and shares his own affecting back story of resilience and ascension.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

"Even if it's not actively affecting your emotions in that moment, you've still got it with you, and you're still carrying it and it's still there."

Read more on BBC

"Alaska Airlines is experiencing an IT outage affecting operations. A temporary ground stop is in place. We apologize for the inconvenience," the company said on X.

Read more on Barron's

Plastic recycling plant closures are affecting the US as well, also prompted by the low price of virgin plastic, causing the country to miss its recycled content targets, as S&P Global reports.

Read more on BBC

The U.S. imposed sanctions on Russian oil producers Rosneft and Lukoil, potentially affecting China, which relies on Russia for one-fifth of its crude imports.

Read more on Barron's

Related Words

• poignant 
• stirring 
• touching