affectionate
adjective
af·fec·tion·ate
ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət 
1
2
: motivated by affection : tender
affectionate care
affectionately
adverb
Examples of affectionate in a Sentence
an affectionate child who gives hugs and kisses freely
Recent Examples on the Web
Their demeanor may change in unexpected ways, such as becoming more alert to potential dangers, barking more, or maybe even being more affectionate.
—
Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Read: OpenAI goes MAGA The dissonance is part of the broader experience of tech—a field that, for the consumer, can feel less affectionate than addling.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
Max Breed: American bulldog Age: 7 years, 11 months
Max is an affectionate, happy dog who enjoys long walks and spending time with humans.
—Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
One day after the pair were spotted being affectionate during a stroll in the French capital, the Divergent actress and Emily in Paris actor were seen once again packing on the PDA in photos obtained by PEOPLE.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
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Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025
Read: OpenAI goes MAGA The dissonance is part of the broader experience of tech—a field that, for the consumer, can feel less affectionate than addling.
—Megan Garber, The Atlantic, 16 Apr. 2025
Max Breed: American bulldog Age: 7 years, 11 months
Max is an affectionate, happy dog who enjoys long walks and spending time with humans.
—Trish Stinger, Kansas City Star, 9 Apr. 2025
One day after the pair were spotted being affectionate during a stroll in the French capital, the Divergent actress and Emily in Paris actor were seen once again packing on the PDA in photos obtained by PEOPLE.
—Jen Juneau, People.com, 26 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affectionate
Cite this Entry
“Affectionate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affectionate. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
affectionate
adjective
af·fec·tion·ate
ə-ˈfek-sh(ə-)nət
: feeling or showing a great liking for a person or thing : loving
affectionately
adverb
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