If you want to convey your ideas clearly and avoid misunderstandings between you and your audience, you must pay careful attention to your word choice and understand the connotation your words carry. More Examplesĭownload this list of connotation examples for your reference. “Mutt” is a less elegant and more negative alternative to “mixed-breed,” used when referring to dogs. “Determined” carries a much more positive meaning. “Pushy” certainly carries a negative connotation, indicating someone who is both annoying and using too much force. A more positive alternative might be “lively.” “Noisy” implies that the sound is unwelcome. “Selective” would be a more positive way to frame the same sentence. “Picky” carries a negative connotation, implying that someone is perhaps overly discriminatory. If your intention is to convey a more negative view, some words are more useful than others.Ĭarla was very picky when it came to dating. “Cheap” or “stingy” would refer to someone who pinches their pennies a little too much. “Thrifty” refers to someone who knows how to skillfully save money, which is generally an admirable quality. Sarah is a thrifty shopper she knows how to save money. “Weird” or “peculiar,” however, are more negative ways to express that something is uncommon. “Unique” implies that something is special or rare. If we described the woman as “nosy,” however, her interest would be of a more intrusive nature. “Interested” implies someone who genuinely cares to learn something. She was very interested to learn how we met. “Slender” means “thin,” but generally carries a more positive connotation than “skinny,” which is usually used to describe an unattractive quality. The slender girl made her way to the water. “Aroma” tends to imply a pleasant smell, giving it a much more positive connotation than the word “smell” itself, or a more negative word like “stench.” We can infer that Grandma is cooking up something mouth-watering (rather than repulsive). The aroma of my grandmother’s cooking wafted into the living room. ![]() “Childlike” implies someone who is youthful and optimistic, whereas “childish” implies someone who is immature or naive. ![]() Some words can be used to lend a more positive note to a sentence and indicate more admiration or appreciation than neutral words could afford. ![]() Much of our interpretation will be based on cultural notions even two words that mean literally the same thing can carry very different connotations, simply because we’ve come to use them that way without a second thought.įor example, “This sweater was so cheap!” carries a more negative connotation than “This sweater was so affordable!” or “ inexpensive.” All three words mean that the sweater didn’t cost much, but “cheap” is a word we typically use to imply that something is poorly made or of low quality.Ĭonnotations can vary significantly between cultures, so it’s important to understand who you are writing for in order to avoid confusion. Words can offer a positive, negative, or neutral connotation. The association implied by a word can be different from its dictionary definition, depending on how the word is used in a sentence and in what context. Positive and Negative ConnotationĬonnotation refers to a feeling or idea that a word invokes for readers, in addition to its literal meaning. Since meaning can change so drastically just by switching out a few words, it’s important to recognize the connotation of your words (both written and spoken) if you want to be understood by your audience. Instead of a womanizing brute, you now get a picture of someone who is shy, sweet, and eager for the company of one girl in particular. But notice how your interpretation changes if I say, “He turns into a puppy dog whenever she’s around.” Ironic, considering that dogs are generally considered loyal companions. ![]() If each of these statements brought to mind certain feelings or ideas, it’s because each one carries a different connotation.įor example, when you read the first statement, you probably didn’t picture a man who looks like an actual dog, or some weird man-dog hybrid.Ĭalling someone (usually a man) a “dog” is a common way of saying that he is dirty, or unfaithful, or a skirt-chaser, because the connotation of “dog” in this sense is negative.
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