affecting

adjective

af·​fect·​ing ə-ˈfek-tiŋ How to pronounce affecting (audio)
a-
: evoking a strong emotional response
affectingly adverb
Choose the Right Synonym for affecting

moving, impressive, poignant, affecting, touching, pathetic mean having the power to produce deep emotion.

moving may apply to any strong emotional effect including thrilling, agitating, saddening, or calling forth pity or sympathy.

a moving appeal for contributions

impressive implies compelling attention, admiration, wonder, or conviction.

an impressive list of achievements

poignant applies to what keenly or sharply affects one's sensitivities.

a poignant documentary on the homeless

affecting is close to moving but most often suggests pathos.

an affecting deathbed reunion

touching implies arousing tenderness or compassion.

the touching innocence in a child's eyes

pathetic implies moving to pity or sometimes contempt.

pathetic attempts to justify misconduct

Examples of affecting in a Sentence

He begins his book with an affecting description of his difficult childhood. the affecting final scene in the play, when the children are reunited with their father
Recent Examples on the Web Throughout the song, the stage increasingly lit up — coming out of near darkness to technicolor — to create an affecting moment paralleling the song's lyrics, which in part finds Joel reflecting on his own legacy to his fans. Daniela Avila, Peoplemag, 5 Feb. 2024 Water From Your Eyes deliver a fully unplugged take on the tune that’s no less affecting when stripped down to Nate Amos’ acoustic guitar and Rachel Brown’s vocals. Jon Blistein, Rolling Stone, 10 Jan. 2024 Both are among the most affecting reckonings with national traumas that American musicians have ever made. The New Yorker, 25 Dec. 2023 But the care with which singer-guitarist Justin Trosper and drummer Sara Lund approached the project following bassist Vern Rumsey’s death was the most affecting part of it all. Pitchfork, 20 Dec. 2023 Viewers have family: the story told will be all the more affecting. Pablo Sandoval, Variety, 23 Nov. 2023 Her subtlety makes the film’s last moments—when the sweep of unexplored possibility finally engulfs her—all the more affecting. Michael Schulman, The New Yorker, 29 Nov. 2023 There’s arguably been no more affecting moment in the series than Katniss showing her love and respect by spreading flowers over the dead girl’s body. David Rooney, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Nov. 2023 The most affecting moments of the memoir’s first half, pre-Sonic Youth, are the ones where a young Moore road-trips to the Bowery with his longtime best friend Harold Paris, bumping shoulders with idols like Joey Ramone and barely escaping death at raucous gigs. Samuel Hyland, Pitchfork, 25 Oct. 2023

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'affecting.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

from present participle of affect entry 2

First Known Use

1720, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of affecting was in 1720

Dictionary Entries Near affecting

Cite this Entry

“Affecting.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/affecting. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

affecting

adjective
af·​fect·​ing ə-ˈfek-tiŋ How to pronounce affecting (audio)
a-
: causing a feeling of pity, sympathy, or sorrow
affectingly adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on affecting

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