Words with Positive and Negative Connotation – Definition
When talking or writing about ideas and feelings, word choice is extremely important. If you want to improve your word choice, you need to look closer into the words’ meaning. We distinguish between two types of meaning: denotation and connotation. Let’s look at the definition of the word connotation to get a better understanding of its meaning.
Connotation is the feeling or mood created by a word. Connotation can be positive and negative, meaning that we get either a positive or a negative feeling or association about something when hearing the word. It can be described as the thing or feeling one thinks of when hearing the word.
Words with Positive and Negative Connotation – Examples
Let’s explore the world of connotations with some real-life examples!Some words have only positive or only negative connotations. For example, the word inexpensive has a positive connotation. It describes something that doesn’t cost a lot of money. Cheap also describes something that does not cost a lot of money, but it gives a feeling that it is not well-made.
When we express our positive feelings about something, we need to use words with positive connotations. If we want our readers or audience to understand that we feel negatively about something or someone, we use words with negative connotations.
In the example above, we are talking about a machine that we want to sell. In this case, we would use the word inexpensive because it has a positive connotation:This machine is really inexpensive.
Some words can have either positive or negative connotations, depending on the context. For example, the word challenge can have a positive connotation when we are talking about a challenge that will help us grow and be better at something. It can also have a negative connotation when we are talking about the difficult obstacle that stops us from doing what we want.
Words with Positive and Negative Connotation – Practice
Now let’s read the sentences and try to use words that have positive and negative connotations correctly.
Take a look at the first sentence:Being ___________ has helped her complete the research for the science class.
Which of these two words would you use to fill in the gap in this sentence – curious or nosy? The word curious has a positive connotation, as it describes a person who wants to learn new things. The word nosy has a negative connotation. It suggests that a person is prying into other people’s private business. This sentence requires a word with a positive connotation because it describes a person who has a desire for knowledge which helped her complete the research project. Therefore, we need to use the word curious:Being curious has helped her complete the research for the science class.
Take a look at another sentence:The lead singer of the band only talked about himself during the interview, which made him seem really ___________.
Which of these two words would you use to fill in the gap in this sentence – confident or arrogant? The word confident has a positive connotation as it describes a person who believes in themselves. The word arrogant has a negative connotation. It suggests that a person is self-obsessed and doesn’t care about other people. This sentence requires a word with a negative connotation because it describes a person who only talked about himself and not about other members of the band. Therefore, we need to use the word arrogant:The lead singer of the band only talked about himself during the interview, which made him seem really arrogant.
Words with Positive and Negative Connotation – Lists
To see more examples of negative and positive words in terms of their connotation, consult the following table:
| Positive Connotation | Negative Connotation |
|---|---|
| adventurous | reckless |
| assertive | pushy |
| discuss | argue |
| extraordinary | bizzare |
| firm | stubborn |
| look | stare |
| sincere | blunt |
| request | demand |
| thrifty | stingy |
| vintage | old |
Connotation and Denotation
Connotation and denotation are two essential characteristics of word meaning in linguistic analysis. We have already looked at the meaning of the term connotation. Connotation is the feeling or mood created by a word. It can be positive or negative.
Denotation refers to a literal meaning of a word. The denotation of a word is the literal meaning you can find in a dictionary.
Words with Positive and Negative Connotation – Summary
Words have two types of meaning. Denotation is the exact definition of a word. Connotation is the feeling or mood created by using that word. Connotations can be positive and negative. Connotations help us express our ideas and feelings and better communicate with others. Connotation is a subjective nuanced meaning, that is created through associations.
For example, a denotation of the word snake is a long limbless reptile, while its connotation is often negative and can be related to the feeling of danger. Therefore, a person who is dangerous or capable of betrayal is sometimes called a “snake”.
Now you know how to identify which words have positive and negative connotations. Do you want more practice? Check out our video, activities, and worksheets!
