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View synonyms for affectionate

affectionate

[ uh-fek-shuh-nit ]

adjective

  1. showing, indicating, or characterized by affection or love; fondly tender:

    an affectionate embrace.

    Synonyms: fond, loving

  2. having great affection or love; warmly attached; loving:

    your affectionate brother.

  3. Obsolete.
    1. strongly disposed or inclined.
    2. passionate; headstrong.
    3. biased; partisan.


affectionate

/ əˈfɛkʃənɪt /

adjective

  1. having or displaying tender feelings, affection, or warmth

    an affectionate mother

    an affectionate letter

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012


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Derived Forms

  • afˈfectionately, adverb
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Other Words From

  • af·fec·tion·ate·ly adverb
  • af·fec·tion·ate·ness noun
  • pseu·do·af·fec·tion·ate adjective
  • qua·si-af·fec·tion·ate adjective
  • un·af·fec·tion·ate adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of affectionate1

First recorded in 1485–95; affection 1 + -ate 1, on the model of passionate
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Example Sentences

“Bride of the Sea” is another name for Jiddah, a coastal city perched on the Red Sea, and Quotah conjures the metropolis and its denizens with rich, affectionate detail.

I miss the affectionate dogs of relatives that make me keep Benadryl at the ready in case one of their licks sets off my older son’s allergies.

It is the most intimate portrait of a man Lee knew only as a quiet, affectionate grandparent, who spoke to her more in gestures than words.

It retains a plentiful sense of the ludicrous in its exploration of class and social norms, though the film is affectionate in the end.

From Vox

Remote workers on the platform are using 80% more emoji since the onset of Covid-19, and choosing more openly affectionate symbols to bridge the months of separation from their colleagues.

From Quartz

He was not a man given to casual affectionate display; the moment was charged with emotion.

I get the benefit of 50 years-worth of television that people are affectionate about.

It zips like all comedies seem to zip today, quick and nimble, its tone affectionate snark.

Not all the women Dodsworth included had positive or affectionate things to say about their breasts.

He was a beautiful child, sweet natured, affectionate, with cocoa-colored skin and a thousand-watt smile.

He was aware of his own helplessness; he felt almost like a boy scolding his own wise, affectionate mother.

Underneath these were affectionate hearts quaking with fear lest the home-coming be but a sad one after all.

It held and caressed her body, almost as if it were an affectionate living thing that knew of her present desire.

I was at a distance from that kind mother, who was doubtless thinking of me with affectionate emotion.

An affectionate wife lamenting over her sick husband, he bade her dry her tears, for possibly he might recover.

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affectional orientationaffectionately