If you describe something such as a story or a piece of music as affecting, you think it is good because it makes you feel a strong emotion, especially sadness or pity.
[literary, approval]
...an affecting drama about a woman with a terminal illness.
Synonyms: emotionally moving, touching, sad, pathetic More Synonyms of affecting
affecting in British English
(əˈfɛktɪŋ)
adjective
evoking feelings of pity, sympathy, or pathos; moving
Derived forms
affectingly (afˈfectingly)
adverb
affecting in American English
(əˈfɛktɪŋ)
adjective
emotionally touching; evoking pity, sympathy, etc.
SIMILAR WORDS: ˈmoving
Examples of 'affecting' in a sentence
affecting
They did come, my lord,' said Rakewell, affecting a serious tone.
Fidelis Morgan THE RIVAL QUEENS: A COUNTESS ASHBY DE LA ZOUCHE MYSTERY (2002)
I wonder how this disaster is affecting her famous detachment.
Vanessa Jones THE KINDEST USE A KNIFE (2002)
Dorothy was saying: `There is something so affecting about weddings.
Holt, Victoria THE BLACK OPAL (2002)
The drug must still have been affecting him, or else his nerves were shot.
Carey, M. V. THE TRAIL OF TERROR (THE THREE INVESTIGATORS MYSTERIES NO 39) (2002)
(adjective)
Definition
arousing feelings of pity
one of the most affecting pieces of the film
Synonyms
emotionally moving
touching
the touching tale of the relationship between a woman and her grandson
sad
the sad news of the destruction of a historic building
pathetic
It was a pathetic sight, watching the people queue for food.
poignant
a poignant reminder of her sister's death
saddening
pitiful
It was the most pitiful sight I had ever seen.
pitiable
Her grandmother seemed to her a pitiable figure.
piteous
a piteous sight
Additional synonyms
in the sense of pathetic
Definition
arousing pity or sympathy
It was a pathetic sight, watching the people queue for food.