Erick Adrian Miranda Moreira

ELA 6 Name: _______________________

21/08/2023
Date: _____________ 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

cook stare Criminal
Astute
thug woman smirk
Smart
glum smile glum
chilly
giggl e plain sl
ender
brill
ant
laugh pushy youthful
plain
sad gaze
refreshing
aggressive nerd
cheap
woman
chick
officer
natural
chef
skinny

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)
2. Jackie wore a/an ________________
Vintage 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

.
Criminal
Word: ______________________

Someone basthatdid something bad and

Part of Speech & Denotation: ( ) _______________________________

probabl
ycopsare searching for him/her
_________________________________________________________________

Connotation: (circle one) positive negative neutral

Bad guy Fel
onious Criminal
Sentence using the word: ____________________________________
Since he robbed the bank,the pol
ice are searching for him,he isa new criminal
.
_________________________________________________________________

Thief
Synonym: ______________________

Connotation: (circle one): positive negative neutral

 
ELA Name: __________________

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 __________
Bossy 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
a more economical
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 areUnderprivil
eged."
__________
(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
Stingy
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
Sl
ender
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
__________
confusing ." (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
__________."
Loaded (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,
Overweight ."
"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 __________.
Shy (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
Letgo
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 __________
l
aid back 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 __________
Inconvenient ." (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:
 
Laid Back
______________:   Relaxed and easygoing
_______________________________________________________________________________  

______________________________________________________________________________________________  

  Allow someone or something to escape ofgo free

Letgo
_____________:________________________________________________________________________________  
Other great words with strong connotations/denotations
______________________________________________________________________________________________  

Loaded Carrying or bearing a l

oad,especial l
ya large one.
______________:________________________________________________________________________________  

______________________________________________________________________________________________  
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.