ELA 6 Erika Lorena Galvis Cruz

Name: _______________________

08/10/2021
Date: _____________ Semantics and Pragmatics
Mod: _____

Connotation vs. Denotation

Denotation is the actual definition of a word. You’ve been looking up the denotation of words
for MANY years now!! But connotation is different. You may have noticed that some words
generate emotions for you. In that case, you are reacting to a word’s connotative meaning.

Connotation is the emotion that a word generates in addition to the actual meaning.

Example
Denotation Connotation

House: A building in which someone lives neutral

Home: A place of warmth, comfort and positive

affection

Shanty: A small, crudely built shack. negative

They say I’m wise. I

prefer to think of it as
scholarly.
 Positive, Negative or Neutral?

Directions: For each word, write the word under the column which best describes its
connotation.

Positive Neutral Negative

1.Gaze 1.Look 1.Stare 9.Smart

9.Clever
9. Astute 10. Cook
2.slender 2.Thin 10. Kitchener 2.Skinny
10.Chef
3.Youthful 3.Immature 11.Woman
11. Chick 3.Juvenile 11.Female
4.Brillant 12. Criminal 4.Smart 4.Nerd 12. Thung
12. Thief
5.Inexpensive 5.Cheap 13. Smirk
5.Thrifty 13. Grin
13. smile 14.Cop
6.pushy 6.Furious 14.Official 6.Aggresive
14. Officer
7.Sad 7.Unhappy 7.Glum 15. Plain
15. Natural 15. Normal
8.Laugh 16. Refreshing 8.Cacle 8.Giggle 16. Chilly
16. Cold

WORD BANK

gaze stare astute smart

youthful immature
chef cook
cheap inexpensive
woman chick
slender skinny
criminal thug
aggressive pushy
smile smirk
brilliant nerd
cop officer
sad glum
plain natural
laugh giggle
refreshing chilly

Directions: Insert the word with the most negative connotation to complete each sentence.

Piercing
1. It was hard to ignore the baby’s ______________ screams. (Loud/Piercing)
an Ancient
2. Jackie wore a/an ________________ dress to the party. (Ancient/Vintage)
Obese
3. Dexter was an __________________ dog. (Obese/Overweight)

 
 Directions: Choose a word from the previous word bank. Look up the part of speech and denotative
definition of the word. Then, determine the connotation of the word. Next, write a sentence using the
word. Finally, determine a synonym for the word with a DIFFERENT connotation.

Example
Word: fragrance

Part of Speech & Denotation: (n) a smell sensed by the olfactory nerve

Connotation: (circle one) positive negative neutral

Sentence using the word: The candlemaker chose a pleasing, spicy fragrance
for her old friend’s candle.

Synonym: odor

Connotation: (circle one): positive negative neutral

.
Word: Sad
______________________

Part of Speech & Denotation: seasonal affective disorder: in which

(ADJ) _______________________________
a person does not have much energy and enthusiasm
_________________________________________________________________

Connotation: (circle one) positive negative neutral

Sentence using the word: She gets sad when he's away.
____________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

Synonym: melancholy
______________________

Connotation: (circle one): positive negative neutral

 
ELA Erika Lorena Galvis Cruz
Name: __________________

08/10/2021
Date: _______

Connotation/Denotation Practice
The connotative meaning of a word can have tremendous impact on a statement that someone makes. If
you choose a word with a negative connotation, the statement you make may have a different impact on
someone than you intended.

Connotation is the emotion that a word generates in addition to the actual meaning.

Consider how the author of each sentence below feels.

Sentence #1: Amanda’s miserly ways will allow her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

Sentence #2: Amanda’s frugal way will allow her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.

It is apparent that the author of sentence #1 DOES NOT have a good opinion of Amanda. That is
because the word miserly has a negative connotation.

Directions: Read each sentence . Identify the best fitting word for the sentence based on the
connotation of each word. Use the hints to guide you!

1. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. Everyone in the office
respects Casey because of her kind but __________ attitude. (HINT: She is respected, so
people like her. A positive word would be appropriate here)

A. Assertive B. Bossy C. Demanding

2. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. "Well," said Curtis
with an embarrassed smile, "I'm looking for __________ car." (HINT: A positive word would
be appropriate here)

A. a cut rate B. a cheaper C. a more economical

3. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. "Here's a scholarship
that you might qualify for," said Mike's advisor. "It's for people who are __________ ."
(HINT: A positive word would be appropriate here)

A. underprivileged B. Poor C. Poverty-stricken

4. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. William annoys his
friends because he's so __________ when it comes to money. (HINT: They’re annoyed so you
need a negative word!)

A. Economical B. Thrifty C. Stingy

5. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. We're worried about
Trish; she's lost so much weight that she looks __________ . (HINT: they’re worried so you
need a negative word!)

A. Trim B. Boney C. Slender

6. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. "I'm afraid," said
Luke's guidance counselor carefully, "that you might find advanced calculus a little too
__________ ." (HINT: We don’t want to hurt Luke’s feelings)

A. Challenging B. Confusing C. Difficult

7. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. "And this particular
neighborhood," said the realtor to the young married couple, "will suit families who are
__________." (HINT: It is rude to refer to someone’s wealth)

A. Rich B. Loaded C. Well to do

8. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. Daniel's doctor said,
"I recommend a low-fat, low-carbohydrate diet because you are becoming __________ ."
(HINT: The doctor wouldn’t insult a patient)

A. Fat B. Large C. Overweight

9. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. What makes Jewel so
difficult to understand is that she is rather __________. (HINT: We want the least insulting
word)

A. Withdrawn B. Shy C. Closeted

10. Choose the most appropriate word that can be inserted in the blank. We were all so sorry to
hear that you had gotten ___________ from the plant. (HINT: Be kind. It’s hard to lose your
job)

A. Canned B. Let go C. Fired

11. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. We like Heath as the
shift supervisor because he has a __________ attitude. (HINT: We want the most
complimenting word here)

A. Laid back B. Careless C. Lackadaisical

 12. Choose the most appropriate word(s) that can be inserted in the blank. "We understand,"
said the customer service representative, "that our new policy might be __________ ." (HINT:
The customer service representative doesn’t want to make themselves look bad so they choose
the most positive word)

A. Inconvenient B. A pain in the neck C. Infuriating

Pick 3 words from the questions above that were unfamiliar to you. Write the DENOTATIVE definition

of those words:
 
Bossy
______________:  _Always telling other people what to do
______________________________________________________________________________  

______________________________________________________________________________________________  

 Withdrawn shy and quiet and preferring to be alone rather than with other people
_____________:________________________________________________________________________________  
Other great words with strong connotations/denotations
______________________________________________________________________________________________  

Canned Canned food is sold in metal containers.

______________:________________________________________________________________________________  

______________________________________________________________________________________________  
1. mansion, shack, abode, dwelling, domicile, residence, house, home, dump
2. spinster, old maid, unmarried woman, maiden lady, career woman
3. snooty, arrogant, conceited, cocky, vain, self-satisfied, egotistical, proud, high-and mighty,
overbearing, high-hat, supercilious
4. titter, giggle, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, roar, snicker, snigger, cackle
5. corpulent, plump, obese, heavyset, fleshy, fat, paunchy, burly, overweight, roly-poly, bulky, portly,
weighty, pudgy
6. saving, tight, miserly, frugal, economical, careful, thrifty, penny-pinching, budget-minded, penurious
7. shrewd, calculating, clever, sly, adroit, knowing, astute, cunning, skillful, smooth,
8. glum, sullen, withdrawn, reticent, silent, taciturn
9. laconic, terse, economical, concise, pointed, compressed, brief, boiled down
10. steal, purloin, embezzle, filch, pilfer, burglarize, rob, holdup, snatch, grab, help oneself to,
appropriate.
 

  1. mansion: a very large house Dwelling: a house or place to live in a shack

very simple and small building made from pieces of wood
 
2. old maid: a woman who is not married maiden lady: a girl or young woman
spinster: a woman who is no longer young
 
3. supercilious beliefs, or ideas are not important, cocky: very confident
conceited: too proud of yourself and your actions and abilities

4. Chuckle: to laugh quietly guffaw: to laugh loudly, snicker: to laugh at someone or something
in a silly and often unkind way

5. pudgy: slightly fat burly: A burly man is large and strong

portly: especially of middle-aged or old men

6: frugal: careful when using money or food miserly: like or typical of a miser
saving: the money that you keep in an account in a bank

7. sly: deceiving people in a clever way cunning:things that are cleverly made for a particular purpose
calculating: controlling situations for your own advantage

8. glum: disappointed or unhappy taciturn: tending not to speak much

sullen: angry and unwilling to smile

9. terse: rude or unfriendly brief: or containing few words economical: not using a lot of fuel, money

10. snatch: to take hold of something suddenly filch: to steal something of little value
appropriate: suitable or right for a particular situation or occasion