1. to respond; to answer; to meet (e.g. demands, expectations)
occ. written as 報える
期待してくれる人たちにもっと応えたい。I want to better meet the expectations of the people who are counting on me.
2. to affect; to take a toll; to strike home; to have an effect on; to be hard on someone (e.g. heat, cold, work, illness, etc.); to be a strain
occ. written as 徹える
一言会話を交わしただけで嫌われるのは、さすがに応える。Being disliked after exchanging just a word or two really gets to me.