Connotation and Denotation
The denotation of a word is its exact meaning, as stated in a dictionary.
(Helpful Hint: Think Denotation = D = Dictionary.)
EXAMPLE:
The denotation of casual is “not fancy or formal.”
The connotation of a word is an added meaning that suggests something positive or negative.
EXAMPLE:
Positive:
The wedding invite called for casual attire.
Here, casual suggests “informal or relaxed” and has a positive
connotation.
Negative:
He snickered at the people on the other side of the room.
Here, snickered suggests “mocking” and has a negative
connotation.
There are some words that are neutral, and suggest neither good or bad feelings.
EXAMPLE
Positive connotation:
Doggy, Puppy
Neutral connotation:
Dog, Canine
Negative connotation:
Mutt, Mongrel
A.
Write (­) if the word has a negative connotation. Write (+) if the word has a positive
connotation. Write (N) if the word is neutral. If you are unsure what a word means, look it
up in the dictionary.
01. ____ relaxed
04. ____ pushed
07. ____ shoved
10. ____ wrote
02. ____ grand
05. ____ slouched
08. ____ snobby
11. ____ old
03. ____ loud
06. ____ large
09. ____ gang
12. ____ stubborn
B.
Rewrite the paragraph below. Replace the underlined words with words that do not have
a negative connotation.
The customer stomped into the store and demanded to see the manager. As the
manager approached, he glared at her. “I bought these shoes yesterday,” he growled. “I
wore them once out in the rain, and look, they’re already ruined,” he barked in a loud tone.
“What can you do about it? he continued belligerently.”
“Well, sir, our policy is to give you a new pair of shoes if you’re not satisfied with
ones that you’ve bought,“ she replied.
“I don’t want a new pair,” he interrupted, frowning at her suggestion. “What a silly
idea! I demand my money back.”
Connotation Practice Exercises
Instructions: In each of the following sentences, the italicized word has a fairly neutral connotation. For each
word in italics, list two synonyms (words with similar denotations): one with a negative connotation and the other
with a positive connotation.
Examples:
Sometimes my thin friend annoys me.
negative connotation: scrawny
positive connotation: slim
Look at the those people with no fixed address.
negative connotation: vagrants
positive connotation: homeless people
1. I recognized the familiar smell of my roommate's cooking.
2. Kraft Dinner is an inexpensive meal.
3. Kevin's interest in model cars has turned into a hobby.
4. Uncle Tom lives in a hut deep in the woods.
5. Tim Curry was an adventurous traveler.
6. We stopped for lunch at a diner in West Vancouver.
7. My parents are committed conservationists.
8. My old laptop has finally died.
9. In a quiet and stealthy way, Bartleby moved into the lawyer's chambers.
10. The teacher was mildly intimidated by Maureen's assertive behavior.