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What Does Connotation Mean? (with Examples)
Whereas denotation is the literal meaning of a word, connotation is a further understanding of the word's denotation.Examples of Connotations
Look at these sentences:- She's an adult.
- She's a real woman.
- She's a real lady.
- She's a real babe.
- She's an adult. (One possible connotation: a sensible woman)
- She's a real woman. (One possible connotation: a curvaceous woman)
- She's a real lady. (One possible connotation: a classy woman)
- She's a real babe. (One possible connotation: an attractive woman)
Positive and Negative Connotations
A word can have a positive or a negative connotation. For example:The denotations of the words difficult and challenging are similar. However, their connotations are very different.
- Difficult (negative connotation) (This suggests there are problems ahead.)
- Challenging (positive connotation) (This suggests the problems ahead will be overcome.)
- Nitpicking (negative connotation) (This suggests someone who gets bogged down on details.)
- Meticulous (positive connotation) (This suggests someone who doesn't let any mistakes through.)