affection

noun

ə-ˈfek-shən How to pronounce affection (audio)
Definition of affectionnext
1
as in love
a feeling of strong or constant regard for and dedication to someone an elderly couple showing their affection for each other by little acts of kindness

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning born with a heart affection that later caused him problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
3
as in devices
a habitual attraction to some activity or thing I'm rooting for the Cubs—just my natural affection for the underdog, I guess

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in characteristic
something that sets apart an individual from others of the same kind religion, of one kind or another, is an affection common to every society known to have existed

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word affection distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of affection are emotion, feeling, passion, and sentiment. While all these words mean "a subjective response to a person, thing, or situation," affection applies to feelings that are also inclinations or likings.

a memoir of childhood filled with affection for her family

How are the words emotion and feeling related as synonyms of affection?

Emotion carries a strong implication of excitement or agitation but, like feeling, encompasses both positive and negative responses.

the drama portrays the emotions of adolescence

When is feeling a more appropriate choice than affection?

Although the words feeling and affection have much in common, feeling denotes any partly mental, partly physical response marked by pleasure, pain, attraction, or repulsion; it may suggest the mere existence of a response but imply nothing about the nature or intensity of it.

the feelings that once moved me are gone

In what contexts can passion take the place of affection?

The meanings of passion and affection largely overlap; however, passion suggests a very powerful or controlling emotion.

revenge became his ruling passion

When would sentiment be a good substitute for affection?

In some situations, the words sentiment and affection are roughly equivalent. However, sentiment often implies an emotion inspired by an idea.

her feminist sentiments are well known

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of affection Despite keeping their coupling under wraps since their relationship began in 2018, the pair have always been swoon-worthy during their rare public moments of affection. — Christina Perrier, InStyle, 18 July 2026 Soprano Michelle Allie Drever sings the title role, while tenor Maxwell Ary is Ruggero, the object of her conflicted affections. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 16 July 2026 There is nothing wrong with him that a little understanding and affection, preferably from his parents, couldn’t have set right. — Book Marks, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026 In any case, as their journey reminds us, someone (or in this case something) needn’t be perfect to be worthy of our affections. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for affection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affection
  1. love
  2. disease
  3. devices
  4. characteristic
  5. devotion
  6. illness
  7. inclination
  8. quality
Noun
  • Mariani described the feature as a love letter to an earlier internet that allowed young people — particularly those in the Global South — to find friendships, culture and identities beyond their immediate surroundings.
    — Emiliano de Pablos, Variety, 30 July 2026
  • Here’s everything to know about the couples who fell in love on soap opera sets.
    — Christina Dugan Ramirez, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026
Definition of love
Noun
  • DeepMind’s AlphaFold, for example, has used to AI to make available new structures for more than 200 million proteins, opening new pathways for research into disease and medicine.
    — Belonging Forum, Forbes.com, 22 July 2026
  • The lab got its start with studies of Rocky Mountain spotted fever in the 1900s, when ranchers and cattle were dying from the then-unknown disease.
    — CNN Money, CNN Money, 22 July 2026
Definition of disease
Noun
  • The accessibility features on smartphones (and other devices) can be game changers.
    — R. Eric Thomas, Denver Post, 28 July 2026
  • Especially for companies such as Samsung, which have been historically known for other capabilities such as hardware and devices, the investment in software, especially for healthcare, is an exciting signal for the industry.
    — Forbes.com, Forbes.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of devices
Noun
  • Additionally, the breast cancer characteristics of some participants were unknown, which may have affected the data.
    — Versha Pleasant, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • The companies will assess the batteries’ performance, reliability, safety, and charging characteristics under everyday driving conditions.
    — Jijo Malayil, Interesting Engineering, 30 July 2026
Definition of characteristic
Noun
  • But Cricket resists this vision, preferring a more solitary idea of artistic devotion, and the story’s sympathies lean in his direction.
    — Tope Folarin, The Atlantic, 22 July 2026
  • But The Odyssey is the first time his devotion to the literal Real has been wielded so effectively.
    — Paul A. Thompson, Pitchfork, 21 July 2026
Definition of devotion
Noun
  • After her diagnosis, her doctor taught her about the illness and what to expect during treatment.
    — Durrie Bouscaren, NPR, 25 July 2026
  • In the initial stages of infection, the pathogen would resemble a known illness—one vulnerable to standard vaccines or drug remedies.
    — Gideon Lewis-Kraus, New Yorker, 25 July 2026
Definition of illness
Noun
  • The rocket reached an orbit approximately 280 miles (450 kilometers) high at an inclination of 60 degrees to the equator, quite close to preflight predictions.
    — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 24 July 2026
  • Emery’s inclination for wide forwards is well known, but acutely demonstrated in Garnacho’s case.
    — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 22 July 2026
Definition of inclination
Noun
  • Grocery store quality produce is sent to Fresh Food Partner corner stores, convenience shops and other local stores, in the Kansas City metropolitan area, for people to purchase.
    — Zuri Primos July 28, Kansas City Star, 28 July 2026
  • That being said, the image quality on all the cameras is lacking for someone like me, who made a living for nearly twenty years taking photos.
    — Joe Salas July 26, New Atlas, 27 July 2026
Definition of quality

Browse Nearby Words

affecting
affection
affectionate
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Affection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affection. Accessed 1 Aug. 2026.

Copy Citation

More from Merriam-Webster on affection

Nglish: Translation of affection for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of spindrift

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Why does English have so many silent letters?

Your vs. You're: How to Use Them Correctly
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

The Longest Long Words List

The Words of the Week - Jul. 31

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)
See More

Popular

See More

7 Pairs of Commonly Confused Words

Dutch Treat and French Leave: Eight Place-Based Compounds

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
asap street sign
Figure Out These Acronyms ASAP You don't have to be a NASA engineer to get these...
See All