Finding the Perfect Word Connotation / Denotation

The Perfect Word… Never underestimate the value of the right word. Some authors spend hours, days, or even weeks searching for just the right word to express their thoughts, feelings, and so on.

The denotation is the dictionary definition.

denotation = definition

Connotation The different associations we have with words is called their connotation. Connotation is the emotional meaning of a word.

Consider the word dog What other words can we use that have the same denotation as “dog” but different connotations?

Connotation positive negative or neutral connotation Generally, we can say that words have a positive negative or neutral connotation sunny sweltering warm cool frigid cold thrifty stingy frugal refined condescending polite persistent bullheaded firm

IMPORTANT! If you are asked to identify a word’s connotation, go with the connotation that MOST PEOPLE would associate with the word.

IMPORTANT! While words can have positive, negative, or neutral connotations, generally speaking, words DO NOT have positive, negative, or neutral denotations. The denotation is simply what the word means (it’s definition)—without any feelings or associations.