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Synonyms of 'affect'

Explore 'affect' in the dictionary
influenceverbemotionally moveverbput onverb
1 (verb) 
to influence (someone or something)
Millions of people have been affected by the drought.
Synonyms
influence
What you eat may influence your risk of getting cancer.
,
involve
,
concern
This matter doesn't concern you, so stay out of it.
,
impact
,
transform
the speed at which your body transforms food into energy
,
alter
They have never altered their programmes.
,
modify
They agreed to modify their recruitment policy.
,
change
We are trying to detect and understand how the climate changes.
,
manipulate
He's a very difficult character. He manipulates people.
She was unable, for once, to manipulate events.
,
act on
,
sway
Don't ever be swayed by fashion.
,
prevail over
,
bear upon
,
impinge upon
2 (verb) 
to move someone emotionally
He loved his sister, and her loss clearly still affects him.
Synonyms
emotionally move
,
touch
It has touched me deeply to see how these people live.
,
upset
She warned me not to say anything to upset him.
,
overcome
I don't know what to say! I'm quite overcome.
,
stir
I was intrigued by him, stirred by his intellect.
,
disturb
He had been disturbed by the news of the attack.
,
perturb
He didn't seem to be perturbed by the news.
,
impress on
,
tug at your heartstrings often facetious)
see effect
Copyright © 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.
(verb) 
to put on a show of
He listened to them, affecting an amused interest.
Synonyms
put on
,
assume
He assumed an air of superiority.
,
adopt
,
pretend
He pretended to be asleep.
,
imitate
a precedent which may be imitated by other activists
,
simulate
They rolled about, simulating a bloodthirsty fight.
,
contrive
,
aspire to
,
sham
,
counterfeit
He financed a plot to counterfeit gold coins.
,
feign
You can't feign interest in something you loathe.
Copyright © 2016 by HarperCollins Publishers. All rights reserved.

Additional synonyms

in the sense of alter
to make or become different
They have never altered their programmes.
Synonyms
modify,
change,
reform,
shift,
vary,
transform,
adjust,
adapt,
revise,
amend,
diversify,
remodel,
tweak (informal),
recast,
reshape,
metamorphose,
transmute
in the sense of assume
to make a pretence of
He assumed an air of superiority.
Synonyms
simulate,
affect,
adopt,
put on,
imitate,
mimic,
sham,
counterfeit,
feign,
impersonate
in the sense of change
to make or become different
We are trying to detect and understand how the climate changes.
Synonyms
shift,
vary,
transform,
alter,
modify,
diversify,
fluctuate,
mutate,
metamorphose,
transmute

Video: pronunciation of 'affect'

Nearby words of 'affect'

  • affability
  • affable
  • affair
  • affect
  • affectation
  • affected
  • affecting
  • All ENGLISH synonyms that begin with 'A'

Source

Thesaurus for affect from the Collins English Thesaurus
1 2 3

Word order in negative statements

In negative statements, the basic word order for subject and object is the same as in positive statements. John has gone to school. John has not gone to school. The difference is that negative s...
Read more about 'Word order in negative statements'
Scrabble score for 'affect': 14
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