Synonyms

affectionately

American

[uh-fek-shuh-nit-lee] / əˈfɛk ʃə nɪt li /

adverb

in a way that shows or is characterized by affection or love.

Georgia’s favorite pet is a Russian tortoise, whom she has affectionately named Speedbump.

Other Word Forms

pseudoaffectionately adverb
quasi-affectionately adverb
unaffectionately adverb

Etymology

Origin of affectionately

affectionate ( def. ) + -ly

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.

She paid tribute to Sakamoto who is affectionately called "big sister" by her teammates.

From Barron's

As the shoot unfolds, Clyde can be found affectionately rubbing Hayley’s hand, gently playing with the wedding band on her ring finger.

From Los Angeles Times

Many fans affectionately referred to him as "Uncle Ebo", reflecting both his longevity and mentorship of younger artists.

From Barron's

"Some of the animals were fighting," said Jeremy, pulling his head sideways as the dragon nipped affectionately at his ear.

From Literature

Rob affectionately calls Denzel his "lack of assistance dog, because he is useless".

From BBC

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023