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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 Speaking to The Sunday Times about his children in February 2025, Graham reflected on the impact of limited affection on young people, a theme that also features prominently in Adolescence. Avalon Hester, PEOPLE, 24 Oct. 2025 His affection for Chiefs Kingdom had a lot to do with that. Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025 Both men had equal affection and admiration for Burnett. Brad Schmitt, Nashville Tennessean, 20 Oct. 2025 Ted, a 2-year-old cat, starts his day with affection from his best friend, Winnie the bunny. Ronnie Li, USA Today, 20 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for affection
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affection
Noun
  • This, plus the ongoing calls among family members, maintains a powerful sense of human connection and love.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Oct. 2025
  • Quinto has been open about his love for the role of Spock.
    Raechal Shewfelt, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Featuring women at the intersections of gender, age, disability, and disease, Pinjar is a nuanced illustration of this.
    JSTOR Daily, JSTOR Daily, 30 Oct. 2025
  • The country has also eradicated once-rampant tropical diseases like malaria.
    Angelica Ang, Fortune, 30 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Turns out it’s finished ahead of schedule and already shipping the servers, which will support Apple Intelligence services on consumer devices like iPhones, according to a new Fox Business report.
    Andrew Nusca, Fortune, 24 Oct. 2025
  • That means more than one of every eight of Kroger's 103 stores in its Cincinnati-Dayton division (which includes Northern Kentucky) have the digital devices so far.
    Alexander Coolidge, Cincinnati Enquirer, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Sadly, the Volvo EX30 missed its moment to be great, but retains some appealing characteristics.
    Mark Phelan, Freep.com, 23 Oct. 2025
  • Taking inspiration from the Greek enchantress Circe, the fragrance embodies her mythical characteristics of seduction and power, alongside rebellion and creation.
    Fairchild Studio, Footwear News, 23 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • Breadth is prioritized over depth; the goal is to strengthen loyalty to the platform, not devotion to an artist or album.
    Jonathan Garrett, The Atlantic, 29 Oct. 2025
  • Such devotion will remain forever etched in our hearts.
    Michael Dorgan, FOXNews.com, 28 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The couple welcomed a daughter, who died due to a childhood illness.
    Stephanie Sengwe, PEOPLE, 25 Oct. 2025
  • Some messages warn of a sudden campus illness outbreak, creating a sense of urgency, while others claim that a faculty member is under investigation, prompting recipients to check documents immediately.
    Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 25 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The cosmos is asking us to define our aspirations and inclinations.
    Lisa Stardust, Refinery29, 20 Oct. 2025
  • On command, the Arc would detach from the service module and reenter the atmosphere at Mach 20+ with a high sustained g-load to arrive at any location within its orbital inclination zone.
    David Szondy October 13, New Atlas, 13 Oct. 2025
Noun
  • The organization’s Green Heart Project, which studies the impact of better air quality on heart disease through urban greening, has found that increasing the number of trees and shrubs in an area can create lower levels of a blood marker associated with inflammation.
    Maggie Menderski, Louisville Courier Journal, 26 Oct. 2025
  • Donate today to preserve the quality and integrity of local journalism.
    Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 26 Oct. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Affection.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affection. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on affection

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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