Denotation/Connotation

10.8.2 Denotation and Connotation

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Denotation is the dictionary definition of a word

Example: fragrance and odor both mean "a smell"

Multiple Choice

Denotation is a word's

• literal, dictionary definition

• emotional meaning

• synonym

• antonym

Connotation is the emotion or feeling a word brings to mind

words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations

Example: fragrance = positive connotation

odor = negative connotation

Multiple Choice

Connotation is a word's

• literal, dictionary definition

• emotional meaning

• synonym

• antonym

Authors choose words that create a certain mood in their writing based on the connotation (feeling) of a word.

Multiple Choice

Referring to someone's house as a "shack" would have a _____ connotation (feeling).

• positive

• neutral

• negative

Multiple Choice

Which has the more positive connotation (feeling)?

• nosey

• curious

Multiple Choice

Which has the more positive connotation (feeling)?

• hyperactive

• energetic

Multiple Choice

Buster was a puny dog. He could not even scare the cat that lived next door.

What is the denotation (dictionary definition) of the word puny in the sentence above.

• noisy or loud

• undersized or small

• large in actions or words

• heavy or overweight

Multiple Choice

What word best fits the connotation (feeling) of the whole sentence below?

This coffee is very (bitter/strong) - just the way I like it!

• bitter

• strong

Multiple Choice

Choose the word with the positive connotation.
self-confident--arrogant

• self-confident
• arrogant

Multiple Choice

Which connotation is MORE negative?
We bought _____ souvenirs at the amusement park.

• cheap
• inexpensive

Multiple Choice

Which word has a neutral connotation?

• Mansion
• Residence
• Shack

Multiple Choice

McDonald's is an inexpensive meal. If you change the word inexpensive to cheap, the word now has a ____ connotation.

• positive
• negative

Multiple Choice

What are connotations?

• Words that end in vowels

• Dictionary definition of a word

• Words that have feelings attached to them

• Describing words

Multiple Choice

A compliment would be to say that the owl in the picture is...

• bizarre
• strange
• unique

Multiple Choice

Choose the word with the positive connotation.
inquiring--prying

• inquiring
• prying

Multiple Choice

Casey was such a pushy leader; she was easily defeated as class president .

• Positive connotation

• Neutral Connotation

• Negative Connotation

Multiple Choice

Read the sentences. What are the differences between surprised and astounded?

• Surprised is the antonym of astounded.

• Astounded is more intense than surprised and implies that Julie was even more shocked.

• Surprised is more intense than astounded and implies that Julie was even more shocked.

• Surprised and astounded have different denotations.