EFFECTS Synonyms: 119 Similar and Opposite Words

effects 1 of 2

noun

plural of effect

as in things

transportable items that one owns the family packed up its household effects and moved to Florida

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

effects

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of effect

as in causes

to be the cause of (a situation, action, or state of mind) classroom presentations designed to effect greater interest in careers in scientific fields

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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 effects

Noun

Forecasters say this year's could be among the strongest on record, and its effects are already being felt across South America and far beyond. — Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026 Engineers need experimental evidence to understand those effects and refine their designs. — Aamir Khollam, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026 Give Honest, Timely Updates While change can be good, people fear uncertainty and the possible negative effects of change. — Expert Panel®, Forbes.com, 16 Oct. 2026 The stronger ocean warming can, however, increase the potential for more pronounced effects on weather patterns. — Callie Zanandrie, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026 Visual effects supervisor Guillaume Rocheron, who worked on Jordan Peele’s Nope, rigged the LED lighting in the stomach to eventually render as the bioluminescence that then helps illuminate Jay’s environment. — Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2026 Perhaps Nix is still feeling the effects of the ankle injury from last January. — Zach Dean Outkick, FOXNews.com, 16 Oct. 2026 Feathers, synthetic hair and translucent organza were worked into exaggerated silhouettes, alongside insect-like décolletés, feline pantaboots, moss-green leather and cheetah-print effects. — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 9 Oct. 2026 Articles written by authors OpenAI said were part of the Iranian campaign covered a range of topics in the Middle East but were often critical of the Iran war’s effects on Americans. — Miriam Waldvogel, Washington Post, 9 Oct. 2026

Verb

Still, stakeholders are unsure what effects a veto override will have. — Laura Horne, Charlotte Observer, 17 Aug. 2026 Here, The Athletic outlines United’s debt picture and what effects this latest refinancing may have. — Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 13 June 2026 The overwhelming amount of digital evidence that both district attorneys and public defenders in Colorado must manage is so dire that state lawmakers created a task force to address the issue, which effects every criminal case in the state. — Shaun Boyd, CBS News, 23 Dec. 2025 What effects the death of his son or other losses and loves had upon his plays are secrets that Shakespeare carried with him to the grave. — James Shapiro, The Atlantic, 1 Dec. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for effects

Noun

Which brings us back to the list of things that lasted longer than Zacharia’s term as White House Press Secretary.

— Leonard Greene, New York Daily News, 18 Oct. 2026
The wide-leg pants keep things relaxed, and the ruched waist on the knit top adds shape and makes the whole look feel more polished than a standard sweatshirt set.

— Chaise Sanders, Travel + Leisure, 18 Oct. 2026

Definition of things

Verb

Yet in September, Bangladesh reported a daily average of 1,198 new cases of measles, which causes a high fever, cough and telltale rash.

— Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 18 Oct. 2026
The organization’s focus areas are education, jobs and livelihood, and health—causes she’s cared about deeply since childhood.

— Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of causes

Noun

The shoes became more than a possession, carrying a connection to the maker long after the customer left the shop.

— Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 15 Oct. 2026
Paporakis has been charged with one count of making a terrorist threat, a class X felony, and one count of unlawful possession of a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches, a class 3 felony, police said.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of possession

Verb

Kolbe’s distinctive use of language brings to life this period’s wonders and difficulties, and her maximalist approach to metaphor creates many energetic images.

— The New Yorker, New Yorker, 12 Oct. 2026
That, in turn, creates incentives to manage the firm carefully with an eye toward long-term survival.

— Naomi Cahn, The Conversation, 12 Oct. 2026

Definition of creates

Noun

Of all the belongings Goyal has collected, Indian and otherwise, a suite of textile paintings from his grandfather offer the most poignant narrative.

— Sarah Medford, Architectural Digest, 14 Oct. 2026
Finding unexploded military ordnance in stockpiles of vintage belongings isn't unprecedented.

— Emily Mae Czachor, CBS News, 14 Oct. 2026

Definition of belongings

Verb

Different Monsters Require Different Minds That brings us to today.

— Jeff DeGraff, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2026
For property owners who poured their life savings into Camelot, the arrival of heavy machinery brings mounting anger over how local authorities handled the complex's long, troubled decline.

— La'Tasha Givens, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of brings

Noun

Even the stuff from the best Japanese markets (and a few chain sushi restaurants) will supply that familiar whiff to varying degrees.

— Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 17 Oct. 2026
Meanwhile, Kate and Hal are mostly enjoying an interlude that Hal thinks is purely romantic, with a bit of work stuff sprinkled on top, and which Kate has designed as more of a half-and-half experience.

— Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of stuff

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“Effects.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/effects. Accessed 19 Oct. 2026.

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noun

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