Mr. Smith’s Junk Shop

Mr. Smith’s Secondhand Store

Betty’s Beauty ParlorBetty’s Hair Boutique

Sam’s DinerSam’s Café

Denotation – the literal dictionary definition of a word

Connotation – the emotions and feelings associated with a word

athlete jock

car mechanic automotive technician

sandwich maker sandwich artist

EUPHEMISMA mild word or phrase substituted for a harsher word

The company was cutting jobs to save money.

The company was downsizing to save money.

I am unemployed at the moment.

I am between jobs at the moment.

A person who doesn’t do any work

Street

Consider These Sets of Words

HomeDwellingHouse

DriftersHomelessDisplaced

CareerJobEmployment

How are the DENOTATIONS similar?What are the differences in

CONNOTATION?

For each numbered set below, write the individual word under the column which best describes its connotation. 1. student, pupil, learner, scholar, apprentice2. spinster, old maid, career woman, unmarried woman3. arrogant, cocky, vain, egotistical, proud, confident4. giggle, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, roar, snicker, cackle5. plump, obese, heavyset, fat, paunchy, burly, overweight, roly-poly, husky, portly, pudgy6. cheap, tight, miserly, frugal, economical, careful, thrifty, stingy, budget-minded7. insidious, clever, sly, astute, cunning, skillful, smooth8. glum, sullen, withdrawn, silent9. abridged, economical, concise, compressed, brief10. steal, embezzle, burglarize, rob, holdup, snatch, grab, help oneself to

For each numbered set below, write the individual word under the column which best describes its connotation. 1. mansion, shack, abode, dwelling, domicile, residence, house, home, dump2. spinster, old maid, unmarried woman, maiden lady, career woman3. snooty, arrogant, conceited, cocky, vain, self-satisfied, egotistical, proud, high-and mighty, overbearing, supercilious4. titter, giggle, chuckle, laugh, guffaw, roar, snicker, cackle5. plump, obese, heavyset, fat, paunchy, burly, overweight, roly-poly, husky, portly, weighty, pudgy6. cheap, tight, miserly, frugal, economical, careful, thrifty, penny-pinching, budget-minded, penurious7. shrewd, calculating, clever, sly, adroit, knowing, astute, cunning, skillful, smooth, 8. glum, sullen, withdrawn, silent9. laconic, terse, economical, concise, pointed, compressed, brief10. steal, purloin, embezzle, filch, pilfer, burglarize, rob, holdup, snatch, grab, help oneself to, appropriate.