affect and strike share a recorded sense, so the question is not what they mean but which one fits. affect means “have an effect upon”. strike means “deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon”. strike is the more common of the two in everyday English.
/əˈfɛkt/
1.v.have an effect upon
“Will the new rules affect me?”
2.v.act physically on; have an effect upon
“the medicine affects my heart rate”
3.v.connect closely and often incriminatingly
“This new ruling affects your business”
/ˈstɹaɪk/
1.v.deliver a sharp blow, as with the hand, fist, or weapon
“The teacher struck the child”
2.v.have an emotional or cognitive impact upon
“This child impressed me as unusually mature”
3.v.hit against; come into sudden contact with
“The car hit a tree”
| affect | strike | |
|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | /əˈfɛkt/ | /ˈstɹaɪk/ |
| Said | uh-FEKT | strahyk |
| Syllables | 2 | 1 |
| Letters | 6 | 6 |
| Parts of speech | verb, noun | verb, noun |
| Senses | 6 | 28 |
| How common | Common | Core |
| Synonyms | impact, bear upon, bear on | none recorded |
Full entry for affect · Full entry for strike · More comparisons