1
as in passions
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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in diseases
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
3
as in inclinations
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 characteristics
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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affections
Together, Johnson and León offer an intense rendering of this song praising a passionate lover whose affections are worth the heartbreaking pain that ultimately follows.
—
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2025
Gambon plays a mobster who takes over a restaurant while his wife’s affections wander elsewhere.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
And the women realized their affections around the same time.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Most impressive among them are the four young lovers whose affections go every which way while under magical influences.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
But lately, as everyone’s affections have turned to red’s cousin oxblood, Lawrence is doing a complete 180.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
Agnes knows better than to idolize such a shallow fellow, saving her affections for a lowly stable boy (Malte Gårdinger).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
Mark-Paul Gosselaar may have been the object of millions of teen girls’ affections in the early ’90s, but his wife wasn’t among them.
—John Russell, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025
These heartfelt affections are a reminder that there are still plenty of angels out there watching over the City of Angels.
—Carlos Valdez Lozano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Jessica Nicholson, Billboard, 31 Mar. 2025
Gambon plays a mobster who takes over a restaurant while his wife’s affections wander elsewhere.
—Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 21 Mar. 2025
And the women realized their affections around the same time.
—Rachel Raposas, People.com, 20 Mar. 2025
Most impressive among them are the four young lovers whose affections go every which way while under magical influences.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 7 Feb. 2025
But lately, as everyone’s affections have turned to red’s cousin oxblood, Lawrence is doing a complete 180.
—Hannah Jackson, Vogue, 3 Feb. 2025
Agnes knows better than to idolize such a shallow fellow, saving her affections for a lowly stable boy (Malte Gårdinger).
—Peter Debruge, Variety, 24 Jan. 2025
Mark-Paul Gosselaar may have been the object of millions of teen girls’ affections in the early ’90s, but his wife wasn’t among them.
—John Russell, People.com, 21 Jan. 2025
These heartfelt affections are a reminder that there are still plenty of angels out there watching over the City of Angels.
—Carlos Valdez Lozano, Los Angeles Times, 17 Jan. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affections
Noun
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Your professional passions will soar or fizzle out when Venus retrograde meets the sun.—
USA TODAY,
USA TODAY,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Magnets, immersion programs, and charter schools add flavors to public education but hardly cover the waterfront of interests and passions.—
Ryan Craig,
Forbes,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Bird droppings are also common on feeders, which can increase the spread of avian diseases among the bird population.—
Abby Fribush,
Southern Living,
16 Mar. 2025
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These projects lowered deaths and infections while also strengthening health-care systems, allowing low-income countries to better respond to diseases as varied as malaria and diabetes.—
John Green,
The Atlantic,
15 Mar. 2025
Noun
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For fashion cognoscenti this is a refreshing departure from quiet luxury inclinations–and and overdue return into the arms of maximalism.—
Bianca Salonga,
Forbes,
19 Mar. 2025
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Walker Wear was bred from these inclinations–and its take-off was historic.—
Robyn Mowatt,
Essence,
19 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Burning coal also creates lung-damaging smog and emits brain-damaging mercury and soot pollution that triggers respiratory ailments and shaves years off lives.—
Michael Hawthorne,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Apr. 2025
-
Native Americans have used these berries to treat a range of ailments, including colds, toothaches and fevers.—
Vicky Hallett,
NPR,
10 Apr. 2025
Noun
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But his theory seemed to mirror the temperament of Deng, who, for all his reformist tendencies, was a ruthless apparatchik.—
Chang Che,
The New Yorker,
21 Dec. 2024
-
Ball-stoppers rarely align with the principles of winning basketball, and Randle’s tendencies are as entrenched as ever.—
Kristian Winfield,
New York Daily News,
20 Dec. 2024
Noun
-
Fall is when a lot of seasonal illnesses start going around.—
Elizabeth Medeiros,
Health,
22 Mar. 2025
-
Among the medical conditions for which people can access benefits, mental health ranks the highest compared to those with disabilities or long-term medical illnesses.—
BYPrarthana Prakash,
Fortune Europe,
21 Mar. 2025
Noun
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Additionally, leaders should look for traits such as initiative, adaptability and a willingness to learn, which are indicators of future success.—
Nilesh Parmar,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
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Influences have a way of appearing, like family traits, in idiosyncratic details such as the turn of a head or position of a hand, but here the steps and styles have been stripped of attitude and etiquette, to their elemental forms.—
Jennifer Homans,
The New Yorker,
23 Dec. 2024
Noun
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The book doesn’t find a clear answer to its titular question but breaks a taboo by searching for one in choices made by Iranians themselves and not just ills done to them by outsiders.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2025
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Conspiracy theories and simplistic sloganeering popular at the time tended to blame Iran’s ills solely on colonialism or capitalism.—
Arash Azizi,
The Atlantic,
12 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Affections.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affections. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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