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
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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
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of affection
Most dogs tend to bond with the person that gives them most attention and affection.
—
Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 31 Oct. 2025
Hamida gives Kammo food, material necessities, and, perhaps most critically, affection.
—JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
Thea has helped the object of her affection finish a manuscript that, once published, will assure this author both literary glory and a spot at the university.
—David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025
At 12, Aaron became the object of Hank’s affection.
—Jourdain Searles, HollywoodReporter, 28 Oct. 2025
See All Example Sentences for affection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affection
Noun
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The actress isn't shy about expressing her love for Leach on Instagram.—
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Cast-iron skillets can come enameled to prevent food from sticking, but the ones our grandmas swear by will always be non-enameled and seasoned with years of love to get that gorgeous, glossy finish.—
Noun
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Plant diseases and pests can be spread by reusing dirty flower pots.—
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In 2024, Patrick's widow Lisa Niemi Swayze teamed up with leading non profit Pancreatic Cancer Action Network to help raise awareness of the disease and increase funding for research.—
Noun
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Samsung says the sensor targets users who want professional-grade imaging from mobile devices.—
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Speaking to gadgets is often faster than typing, but Amazon and Nirva also see their devices as another means to gather data that can provide insights about a user’s life, though doing so will surely raise privacy concerns.—
Noun
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But there are other factors that needled their way into the evolutionary development of dormancy characteristics.—
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There’s no single definition in our modern times, but experts generally agree on a few characteristics.—
Noun
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Layla has long been one of the most familiar faces in SEC circles, known for her presence on the sidelines and devotion to her family.—
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Religious devotion is difficult to capture on film.—
Noun
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The Pistons played without Cade Cunningham (wrist), Isaiah Stewart (illness), Tobias Harris (hip) and Jalen Duren (ankle).—
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Vinjamoori explains that while general recommendations for older adults often start lower, needs increase significantly if a person is active, recovering from illness, or trying to rebuild strength.—
Noun
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This time around, the cuisine will focus on Laura’s roots, offering up dishes that show off Mexico’s culinary inclinations.—
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The 11 satellites on board are flying to a mid-inclination orbit.—
Noun
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Rejecting the streamlining and modernizing approach of many recent translations, Mendelsohn artfully reproduces the epic’s formal qualities—meter, enjambment, alliteration, assonance—and in so doing restores to Homer’s masterwork its archaic grandeur.—
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Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.—
Cite this Entry
“Affection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affection. Accessed 13 Jan. 2026.
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