Distinguish Connotations Among Words with Similar Denotations: CCSS.ELA-LITERACY.L.7.5.C - Common Core: 7th Grade English Language Arts

Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations.

Both employee and underling mean to work for someone. However, underling is more of a negative term.

Connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations.

All of the words are similar in meaning and imply that something (in this case a stray cat) is skinny. Based on the context of the sentences the cat is extremely skinny which means that “thin” is not a severe enough denotation.

Domineering means inclined to rule arbitrarily or despotically; overbearing; tyrannical. The king is incredibly unwilling to listen to anyone and uses brute force to rule. This is beyond pushy, assertive, and aggressive.

The context of the sentence tells us he has a very high IQ and a difficult job that requires a lot of knowledge so readers know he is brainy, smart, and bright but he is more than that. The connotation of the sentences leads the readers to understand he is incredibly smart or in this case, brilliant.

Several of these choices have similar connotations (meanings) but to varying extremes. Something that is hideous would be hard to look at, and therefore distinguishable or noticeable; to a slightly lesser extent, ugly is also a memorable condition when the sentence indicates that this person would be forgettable. And “dull” when applied to a person generally relates to personality not appearance (when applied to an object it means the opposite of shiny). Someone who has features that are easily forgotten or undistinguishable would be plain.

All of the answer choices mean something similar in that the items must be old but the connotation of the sentences assists readers with which word has the most appropriate denotation. When describing handcrafted items, such as furniture, that are old and worth a lot of money they are referred to as antiques. What was found in this example were valuable pieces of antique furniture.

Jackie is overcome with joy and is elated to have received just the gift she was hoping for. Her smile was enormous and she had tears of joy in her eyes. This tells readers that she is thrilled with the gift and far beyond the wrong answer choices emotionally.

This choice included two words with similar denotations (void and unsatisfied) but full is an antonym to these words.

"Childish" has a negative connotation implying an adult behaving immaturely. “Childlike” and “youthful” have a positive connotation implying someone being full of energy and wonder. “Young” has a neutral connotation and is a neutral adjective to describe someone’s age.

“Economical” has a neutral connotation whereas “cheap” and “miserly” all have negative connotations. “Thrifty” is often associated with a positive connotation. It is not perceived in general to be a negative thing to be called economical. It can even lean toward the positive connotation in some cases.

Pushy has a negative connotation and alludes to aggressiveness. The other answer choices do not have the same negative connotation.

A connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations. These words all have a similar denotation and refer to the smell that something carries. "Odor" has a negative connotation, and when used, it means that something is smelly, and it leans towards being a bad or negative smell.

A connotation is the feeling or idea that goes along with a word or phrase. Some words are close in meaning but have different connotations. The word “dog” has a neutral connotation; but, the word “mutt” has a negative connotation, and the words "purebred” and "man's best friend" have a positive connotation.