AFFECTION Synonyms: 215 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

affection

noun

ə-ˈfek-shən

Definition of affection

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 The testator can use the will to disinherit anyone who might be considered a natural object of his or her affection or who would inherit if there were no will. — Bob Carlson, Forbes.com, 28 Aug. 2026 In short, Parton may not have claimed to be a feminist, but her feminist fans claimed her just the same — with pride and affection. — ABC News, 28 Aug. 2026 This is especially the case when the affection and connection between caregiver and care recipient runs deep, as appeared to be the case with Parton. — Elissa Strauss, CNN Money, 27 Aug. 2026 Maybe there could have been something there, in the unforced affection between the two stars. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 27 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for affection

Recent Examples of Synonyms for affection

Noun

One of the themes is parenthood and a way of conceiving motherhood and parental love as control and ambition that is projected onto one’s children.

— Nick Vivarelli, Variety, 3 Sep. 2026
And given her lifelong love of the breed, Farlow can understand why the couple may have been powerless to resist.

— David Mack, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of love

Noun

New findings by a team of researchers from the US and Australia have complicated an ongoing debate over whether a total joint arthroplasty may increase the risk of Alzheimer’s disease.

— Mike McRae August 31, New Atlas, 1 Sep. 2026
As the disease progresses, people can develop a stiff neck, seizures and coma.

— Anthony Thompson, USA Today, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of disease

Noun

Instead, Cramer pointed to Cook's ability to sustain the iPhone's appeal and keep consumers coming back through successive generations of premium devices.

— Alexa LoMonaco, CNBC, 31 Aug. 2026
Infecting already compromised devices Research published Monday brings the threat into much clearer view.

— Dan Goodin, ArsTechnica, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of devices

Noun

Historically, the Grand Sport has borrowed its design characteristics from the range-topping Z06, and that’s no different this time around.

— Jerry Perez, The Drive, 3 Sep. 2026
This potentially allows the same aircraft platform to undertake different types of strike missions while carrying weapons configured for different target characteristics.

— Prabhat Ranjan Mishra, Interesting Engineering, 3 Sep. 2026

Definition of characteristic

Noun

Fewer than 10 people typically die of the illness each year, but nearly everyone who contracts it dies, according to the CDC.

— Charlotte Observer, Charlotte Observer, 29 Aug. 2026
If a parent has an illness so contagious that the hospital can’t adequately protect other patients from it, such as tuberculosis, the parent and child would probably be put in an isolation room with special airflow to contain germs.

— Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of illness

Noun

The film’s procedural aspect ticks along just fine, holding the attention without subverting expectations, and carried by actors who, much like the detectives in this case, are ultra-capable professionals with no inclination to go rogue on us.

— Guy Lodge, Variety, 28 Aug. 2026
Collectively, that inclination could lead to bills soaring ever higher.

— Audrey McGlinchy, Los Angeles Times, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of inclination

Noun

The centre-back hopes signing for Birmingham will bring out latent leadership qualities.

— Katie Whyatt, New York Times, 1 Sep. 2026
None of the lead articles compare firms that adopted these AI processes with otherwise similar firms that did not, on realized strategy quality or long-run performance.

— Steve Denning, Forbes.com, 31 Aug. 2026

Definition of quality

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affecting

affection

affectionate

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“Affection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affection. Accessed 4 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of affection

noun

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Synonyms of affection

noun

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to affection

'Affection' vs. 'Affectation'

Cite this Entry

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Word of the Day

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A Who’s Who Regarding ‘Who’s’ and ‘Whose’

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What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?

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