Shades of Meaning

Shades of Meaning

I can understand that synonyms may have positive, negative, or neutral connotations.

Multiple Choice

What is a synonym?

• words with opposite meanings

• words with different meanings

• a spice I sprinkle on oatmeal

• words with similar meanings

Synonyms have similar meanings, but the words are not always interchangeable. The words have different shades of meaning.

• cackle

• laugh

Multiple Choice

A cackle is ...

• a smile

• a loud, noisy laugh

• a quiet laugh

Connotation is the feeling that the word carries with it.

There are words that carry positive connotation and words that carry negative connotations. Some words are neutral. Is the word "cackle" positive, negative, or neutral?

Multiple Choice

The synonyms "hurried" and "charged" are actions. Read the following sentences. Betsy hurried to catch the popcorn as it emerged from the popper. Leo charged to catch the popcorn as it emerged from the popper. Which word has a negative connotation?

• hurried

• charged

Multiple Choice

The synonyms "reached for" and "grabbed" are also actions. Read the following sentences. Simon reached for the salt. Sam grabbed the salt. Which word has a negative connotation?

• reached for

• grabbed

Multiple Choice

What word has the positive connotation?

• impatient

• enthusiastic

Open Ended

Use the word "enthusiastic" in a sentence.

Multiple Choice

What word has the negative connotation?

• curious

• nosy

Open Ended

Use the word "nosy" in a sentence.

Multiple Choice

What word has a negative connotation?

• trusting

• gullible

Open Ended

Gullible is someone who believes everything - even things they should not believe. Write a sentence with the word gullible.

Multiple Choice

What word has a positive connotation?

• unique

• weird

Open Ended

"Unique" means special or one of a kind. Write a sentence with the word "unique."

Multiple Choice

Which word has a positive connotation?

• cheap

• thrifty

Multiple Choice

Which word has a negative connotation?

• determined

• stubborn

Multiple Choice

The following three words have positive, neutral, and negative connotation. Which word has a neutral connotation?

• lazy

• inactive

• relaxed

Multiple Choice

The following three words have positive, neutral, and negative connotation. Which word has a neutral connotation?

• careful

• timid

• cowardly

Multiple Choice

The following three words have positive, neutral, and negative connotation. Which word has a neutral connotation?

• proud

• conceited

• self-confident

Multiple Choice

The following three words have positive, neutral, and negative connotation. Which word has a negative connotation?

• thin

• scrawny

• slender

Multiple Choice

The following three words have positive, neutral, and negative connotation. Which word has a neutral connotation?

• steals

• takes

• borrows

Multiple Choice

The following three words have positive, neutral, and negative connotation. Which word has a positive connotation?

• poor

• underprivileged

• impoverished

Match

Match the words that are synonyms. The row on top has positive connotations and the row on the bottom has negative connotations.

• to smell

• bold

• invested her money

• assertive

• dazzling colors

to reek

reckless

squandered her money

aggressive

gaudy colors

• to reek

• reckless

• squandered her money

• aggressive

• gaudy colors