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 WebIn all the ways Poor Things was excessive, Kinds of Kindness is ascetic, but not in an affecting way.
Is Kinds of Kindness an allegory?—Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 18 May 2024 Some of the most affecting moments in the film are those in which Touda sings aita, a folkloric genre of Moroccan music rooted in a poetry of liberation.—Lovia Gyarkye, The Hollywood Reporter, 17 May 2024 Despite the refrain of the absent father, Suleiman’s relationship with his mother is the most affecting in the novel.—Hazlitt, 3 Apr. 2024 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 See all Example Sentences for affecting
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.
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