affections

noun

plural of affection
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

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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

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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

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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

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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 affections What starts out as a routine professional interview soon spirals into an absurdly funny portrait of the rivalries, loyalties and affections shared by three women. — Anna Marie De La Fuente, Variety, 7 Aug. 2026 Two brothers fighting over the affections of a woman — or, perhaps in the case of The White Lotus, each other — is a tale as old as time. — Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026 This sounds like a possible rival for the affections of anyone who loves the sweet-salty flavor of McDonald’s McGriddle breakfast sandwich. — Melissa Locker, Southern Living, 20 July 2026 Soprano Michelle Allie Drever sings the title role, while tenor Maxwell Ary is Ruggero, the object of her conflicted affections. — Randy McMullen, Mercury News, 16 July 2026 In any case, as their journey reminds us, someone (or in this case something) needn’t be perfect to be worthy of our affections. — Angie Han, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026 In Virgo, Venus is sensual but also underrated, often expressing her affections with tact, reliability and acts of service. — Valerie Mesa, PEOPLE, 9 July 2026 And so Aunt Juana divided her affections between her favorite niece and nephew. — Literary Hub, 1 July 2026 Progressives see the success of democratic socialist candidates as a recipe to win the affections of voters across the country. — Michael Collins, USA Today, 25 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for affections
  1. passions
  2. diseases
  3. inclinations
  4. characteristics
  5. ailments
  6. tendencies
  7. qualities
  8. illnesses
Noun
  • Basketball and baseball were his sporting passions growing up in New York, before embarking on a 40-year career in the aviation industry.
    — Philip Buckingham, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Whether the race ever happens, the idea is pure Shaq, a celebrity who's renowned for indulging his passions, of which cars are near the top of the list.
    — Terry Baddoo, USA Today, 13 Aug. 2026
Definition of passions
Noun
  • Pathogens are microorganisms known to cause numerous diseases in their host, meaning Bifidobacterium animalis may help fight certain diseases.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Splitting up and spreading out childhood vaccines would be a seismic shift for families and a complicated, costly pursuit for the country that would only leave more people vulnerable to preventable diseases.
    — Brenda Goodman, CNN Money, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of diseases
Noun
  • Putin will eventually leave office, whether by death, illness, or—against all observable inclinations—stepping aside.
    — Julian G. Waller, Foreign Affairs, 7 Aug. 2026
  • People with gene variants that affect these inclinations may also be at a higher risk of developing obesity and type 2 diabetes, researchers found.
    — Emily Kay Votruba, EverydayHealth.com, 28 July 2026
Definition of inclinations
Noun
  • Jack Reacher, protagonist of books by Lee Child and an ongoing Amazon drama, has several characteristics integral to his Jack Reacher-ness.
    — Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 14 Aug. 2026
  • Hydrogen tackles flight phases Unlike conventional jet fuel, hydrogen has different combustion and storage characteristics, requiring changes to the systems that deliver and burn it.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of characteristics
Noun
  • Medics treat heat stroke and other ailments from trailers while an announcer calls out an endless stream of names of people separated from their families.
    — Jane Arraf, NPR, 10 Aug. 2026
  • During his time in the minors, Mayer dealt with hip, back, shoulder and wrist ailments.
    — Justice delos Santos, Mercury News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of ailments
Noun
  • Using that information, the fitter identifies the head shape, hosel configuration and weighting that best complement the player's natural tendencies.
    — Jeff Goudy, Forbes.com, 6 Aug. 2026
  • The zoological and mythographic tendencies of Caillois are by no means out of place here.
    — Jan Tumlir, Artforum, 5 Aug. 2026
Definition of tendencies
Noun
  • Scarcity, heritage, and exclusivity are part of what customers are paying for, and those qualities have helped create exceptional economics.
    — Jim Osman, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2026
  • The philosophical qualities that define Lindelof’s best work, as well as his stories’ exhilarating strangeness, get lost in the jumble of voices.
    — Judy Berman, Time, 14 Aug. 2026
Definition of qualities
Noun
  • Over the next 60 years, polio, measles, rubella, smallpox and other illnesses nearly vanished.
    — Dr. Marianne Parshley, Hartford Courant, 10 Aug. 2026
  • Doctors say severe cases are seen more often in elderly patients, people with weakened immune systems, and those with liver disease, diabetes and certain chronic illnesses.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 9 Aug. 2026
Definition of illnesses

Browse Nearby Words

affectionate
affections
affectless
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Cite this Entry

“Affections.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/affections. Accessed 16 Aug. 2026.

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Nglish: Translation of affections for Spanish Speakers

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