Which Word Or Word Phrase Most Clearly Has A Negative Connotation

Connotative Words: Examples & Meaning of Connotation (With Quiz)

When you expect upward a word in the dictionary, you volition find its literal, or denotative, pregnant. This is the basic definition of the word. However, many words — specially nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs — as well have connotative meanings. Discover the emotional side of words by reviewing some connotation examples.

connotative words examples with group of children

Connotative Word Pregnant

Connotation refers to a significant suggested or implied by the use of a detail word, beyond its literal (denotative) meaning. Connotation impacts how readers perceive the overall meaning of what a writer or speaker is trying to communicate. Depending on how a word has been used over time, or the context in which it is being used, the term may have a positive, negative or neutral connotation.

Connotative vs. Denotative Meanings

To fully understand a word and utilize it correctly, y'all need to know both its denotation (the standard definition) and its connotation (the feelings associated with it).

The denotative pregnant of a give-and-take is its official lexicon definition.

A word's connotative meaning includes shades of meaning, such as emotions, associated with the term.

The Importance of Connotation

When choosing words to use in language, it'south important to consider both types of meaning. This is an of import key to choosing the right words. If you lot aren't fully aware of a give-and-take's connotation, yous may choose an inappropriate synonym in your writing, which can pb to confusion or even to your reader taking criminal offence.

Example: Altogether Action Request

If you say that you want to do something unlike for your birthday this twelvemonth, that doesn't convey the same meaning as if you said yous wanted to do something unique. The denotative meanings of "different" and "unique" are similar (not the same or unlike). However, the connotative meanings of these two words are not the same.

Unlike would hateful something other than what y'all did last year or in previous years.
Unique would imply something highly unusual, such as an activeness not commonly associated with birthdays or something that you (or nigh people) have never done before

Someone trying to come up with a way to gloat your birthday will probably notice it much more challenging to identify a "unique" action rather than i that is just "different."

Case: Describing a Group

As some other example, consider the words group, clique, society, and gang. All iv accept basically the same denotative significant: a set up of more one person. Each of these words has a different connotative meaning, however.

Grouping has a neutral connotation. The word simply describes a number of people. It does non inspire either positive or negative feelings.
Clique also ways a group of people, but it carries a negative connotation. This is because "clique" is typically used in circumstances where the grouping is known for excluding others. This word should exist used carefully: If you want to exist thought of as a welcoming group, the negative connotation of this word volition turn people off!
Gang is defined as an organized group, simply it has very negative connotations. The use of this term suggests criminal activity and/or violent behavior.
Club too refers to a group of people, merely this discussion has a more positive connotation because a club is a drove of people that voluntarily come together for a shared passion or purpose.

Example: Describing Demeanor

If you know someone whose personality style is the opposite of high-strung, information technology'due south important to cull an appropriate discussion to describe the person's demeanor. Should you lot employ relaxed, lackadaisical or easygoing?

Relaxed is a fairly neutral or positive mode to describe someone's temperament, just information technology doesn't imply that the person is this mode all the fourth dimension. Someone could be relaxed now, but go very agitated or excited at another time.
Easygoing is likewise likely to be perceived as a positive or natural description. It is more than probable to be viewed every bit a general statement about a person's general nature rather than a snapshot of a moment in time.
Lackadaisical is never a compliment. Someone who is lackadaisical is relaxed and easygoing, but that person is also probably careless and disengaged. This term has a negative connotation.

Connotative Words: Examples

To see more than examples of how words with like denotations can have positive, neutral or negative connotations, refer to the chart below.

Positive Connotation	Neutral Connotation	Negative Connotation
interested	curious	nosy
employ	use	exploit
thrifty	saving	stingy
steadfast	tenacious	stubborn
sated	filled	crammed
courageous	confident	complacent
unique	different	peculiar
meticulous	selective	picky
vintage	sometime	bedraggled
elated	happy	manic

Connotative Meaning: Practice Exercises

At present that you're more familiar with connotative words, meet how well you practice with these fun exercises. The answers are below, so don't wait ahead until yous take tried to answer on your ain.

Exercise 1: Finding Words With Negative Connotations

Read the sentences below. Identify the give-and-take(south) that have a negative connotation.

Bedford is a gritty neighborhood, simply the rent is affordable.
On my flying to Los Angeles, I sat next to this geezer. He was very old.
Every morning my neighbor takes his mutt to the park. It always barks loudly when leaving the building.
Y'all need to exist pushy when you are looking for a job.
Bob is bullheaded sometimes, but he always gets the chore done.

Exercise 2: Choose a Give-and-take With a Positive Connotation

Choose the word with the virtually positive connotation to complete the sentences below.

I dearest spending time with my aunt. She has a very (childlike, youthful, childish) outlook on life.
I enjoy finding means to make the most of my upkeep by being (frugal, miserly, cheap).
I am (confident, big-headed, egotistical) that I will be selected for a office in the school play.
I realize that you lot're feeling (nosy, prying, inquisitive), only I'd rather not discuss the affair.
My cousin is very (blathering, jabbering, talkative).

Exercise three: What's the Connotation?

For each of the sentences below, determine if the bold discussion has a positive or negative connotation.

How long accept you been dieting? Maybe also long. You look so skinny.
I tin tell yous put a lot of piece of work into your book study. It is extraordinary.
I hope to look similar my sis when I grow upwards. She is admittedly gorgeous.
I know that Eddie and I are the same age, just he is just then juvenile.
Information technology's certainly unusual to utilize Comic Sans font on a resume.

Answers for Practise 1: Finding Words With Negative Connotations

The terms with a negative connotation are marked in bold.

Bedford is a gritty neighborhood, only the rent is affordable.
On my flight to Los Angeles, I sabbatum next to this geezer. He was very former.
Every forenoon my neighbor takes his mutt to the park. Information technology always barks loudly when leaving the building.
You demand to be pushy when you are looking for a task.
Bob is bullheaded sometimes, but he always gets the job washed.

Answers for Exercise 2: Cull a Give-and-take With a Positive Connotation

Options with the nigh positive connotation are marked in bold.

I love spending fourth dimension with my aunt. She has a very (childlike, youthful, childish) outlook on life.
I relish finding ways to brand the well-nigh of my budget past being (frugal, miserly, cheap).
I am (confident, big-headed, egotistical) that I will be selected for a role in the school play.
I realize that yous're feeling (nosy, prying, inquisitive), but I'd rather not discuss the matter.
My cousin is very (blathering, talkative, jabbering).

Practice iii: What's the Connotation

Answers appear in parentheses later on each sentence.

How long have you lot been dieting? Maybe too long. You look so skinny. (negative - implies the person has lost too much weight)
I tin can tell you put a lot of piece of work into your book report. It is extraordinary. (positive - implies that the results are very proficient)
I hope to expect like my sis when I grow upwards. She is admittedly gorgeous. (positive - implies great beauty)
I know that Eddie and I are the same age, but he is just then juvenile. (negative - implies immature and childish)
It'southward certainly unusual to apply Comic Sans font on a resume. (negative - implies that this is a bad idea)

Apply Context to Go a Sense of the Word

As you can run into, it'southward important to understand the connotation also as the denotation of a discussion before you use it. Otherwise, you run the risk of picking a word that doesn't effectively communicate your intended meaning. It takes practice to understand both the connotation and denotation of a new word, but information technology's well worth the endeavor. The best manner to acquire a word's connotation is to review it in actual sentences to get a sense of how it is used. There are many examples of connotation in literature to review. It's also helpful to compare how synonyms are used then you can see which are positive, negative or neutral. These strategies tin help prepare you lot to select the best denotative and connotative words for your purposes.

Source: https://examples.yourdictionary.com/examples-of-connotative-words.html

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