denotations and connotations denotation a word’s denotation is its literal meaning – that is,...
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Denotations and ConnotationsDenotation
A word’s denotation is its literal meaning – that is, the definition you find in a dictionary.
Connotation A word’s
connotation is the feelings and ideas associated with a word.
Denotation and Connotation Using a thesaurus, you
can find words that have similar denotations but different connotations.
For example: If you looked up the word smile in a thesaurus, you would likely find the vocabulary word smirk listed as a synonym. Smile and smirk have similar denotations but different connotations.
Smile suggests happiness, while smirk suggests a smugness (an offensive self-satisfaction)
When someone smiles at us, we have a happy emotion. Happy emotions are positive, so the word smile has a positive connotation.
When someone smirks at us, we have a sad or maybe a mad emotion. Sad or mad emotions are negative, so the word smirk has a negative connotation.
Denotation and ConnotationOther examples: Slim and Skinny both relate to being
thin in size. However, slim has a positive connotation while skinny has a negative connotation.
Slim reminds me of someone that is fit and trim. While Skinny reminds me of someone that is undernourished.
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