4
piteous(adjective, mean, low, sad, tender)
4
powerful(adjective, strong, intense, important, significant)
3
affected(melodramatic, theatrical)
3
afflictive(adjective, pain, distressing, upsetting, tragic)
3
appealing(adjective, characteristic, feelings, emotion)
3
cheerless(mean, low, pain, wretched, distressing)
3
comfortless(mean, low, pain, wretched, pitiful)
3
deplorable(mean, low, sad, pain, miserable)
3
depressing
3
distressing(adjective, mean, moving, low, sad)
3
dolorous
3
expressive(adjective, strong, moving, difficult, sad)
3
heart-piercing(adjective, characteristic, feelings, emotion)
3
heart-stirring(adjective, characteristic, feelings, emotion)
3
heart piercing(adjective, characteristic, feelings, emotion)
3
heartbreaking(adjective, mean, moving, low, touching)
3
heartrending(adjective, mean, moving, low, sad)
3
joyless(mean, low, pain, wretched, distressing)
3
painful(moving, sad, emotional, touching, distressing)
3
pathetical(adjective, characteristic, feelings, emotion)
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APASmart Define. (2015). affecting thesaurus. Retrieved September 20, 2026, from https://smartdefine.org/affecting/thesaurus/synonyms
ChicagoSmart Define. 2015. "affecting thesaurus" https://smartdefine.org/affecting/thesaurus/synonyms (accessed September 20, 2026).
HarvardSmart Define 2015, affecting thesaurus, Smart Define, viewed 20 September, 2026, <https://smartdefine.org/affecting/thesaurus/synonyms>.
MLASmart Define. "affecting thesaurus" 20 July 2015. Web. 20 September 2026. <https://smartdefine.org/affecting/thesaurus/synonyms>