Name:____________________ Class:_______
Connotation and Denotation
Connotation – The feeling or idea connected to a word. These feelings or ideas can be
described as positive (good) or negative (bad).
Denotation – A word’s literal meaning.
Ex. Emily thought the room had an aroma. Vs. Emily thought the room had a stench.
Both aroma and stench mean “a smell.” This is their denotation.
Aroma has a positive connotation and is usually used to describe good smells. Stench has a
negative connotation and is usually used to describe bad smells.
Activity # 1
For each pair of words, determine which word has a more positive connotation and which word
has a more negative connotation. Write a “+” or “-“ over the appropriate word.
+ -
Ex. aroma | stench
1. walk | limp 2. cheer | shout 3. independent | alone
4. starving | hungry 5. bright | blinding 6. argue | debate
Activity # 2
For each sentence below, replace the underlined word with a word from the word bank that has
the same denotation. Write the new word above the underlined word and indicate whether the
new word has a more positive connotation or more negative connotation.
beautiful complex confident filthy
miniature monstrous modern vintage
filthy -
Ex. A dirty mouse ran across the kitchen counter.
7. The tall man walked into the building, and everyone stared at him.
8. After listening to her life story, Billy said, “You are a very complicated person.”
9. His old car was built in the eighties.
10. Her friends described her as pushy.
Name:____________________ Class:_______ KEY
Connotation and Denotation
Connotation – The feeling or idea connected to a word. These feelings or ideas can be
described as positive (good) or negative (bad).
Denotation – A word’s literal meaning.
Ex. Emily thought the room had an aroma. Vs. Emily thought the room had a stench.
Both aroma and stench mean “a smell.” This is their denotation.
Aroma has a positive connotation and is usually used to describe good smells. Stench has a
negative connotation and is usually used to describe bad smells.
Activity # 1
For each pair of words, determine which word has a more positive connotation and which word
has a more negative connotation. Write a “+” or “-“ over the appropriate word.
+ -
Ex. aroma | stench
+ - + - + -
1. walk | limp 2. cheer | shout 3. independent | alone
- + + - - +
4. starving | hungry 5. bright | blinding 6. argue | debate
Activity # 2
For each sentence below, replace the underlined word with a word from the word bank that has a
similar denotation. Write the new word above the underlined word and indicate whether the new
word has a more positive connotation or more negative connotation.
beautiful complex confident filthy
miniature monstrous modern vintage
Filthy -
Ex. A dirty mouse ran across the kitchen counter.
monstrous -
7. The tall man walked into the building, and everyone stared at him.
complex +
8. After listening to her life story, Billy said, “You are a very complicated person.”
vintage +
9. His old car was built in the eighties.
confident +
10. Her friends described her as pushy.