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Connotation
Thrifty and stingy both describe someone careful with money, but one is a compliment and the other an insult. That feeling is the connotation, and it is the quickest way to cut down the choices when you are not sure of a word.
Same meaning, different feeling
A word’s denotation is its dictionary meaning; its connotation is the feeling it carries. Many test words come in pairs that mean almost the same thing but feel opposite. The test checks whether you can tell them apart.
The five-second filter
When you are unsure of a word, ask: is it a compliment or a complaint? If the word is negative, cross out the positive choices, and the other way round. Often only one or two choices survive.
How to solve them
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1
Positive, negative and neutral
Words can praise, criticize, or simply describe. Sort the word first, then sort the choices the same way.
Next step: From the sentencePositiveslender, determined, frugal
praise
Negativescrawny, stubborn, miserly
criticism
Neutralthin, persistent, economical
just description
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2
Reading the feeling from the sentence
In the sentence format, other words tell you the feeling: “annoyed,” “praised,” “unfortunately,” “luckily.” Match the choice to that feeling.
Next step: From word partsExample“The reporter’s ___ questions annoyed the mayor.”
- “Annoyed” makes it negative.
- Choices: curious (+), nosy (−), polite (+), thoughtful (+).
Answer Nosy
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3
Word parts that carry a feeling
Some prefixes signal a feeling all by themselves.
bene-+good: benefit, benevolentmal-−bad: malfunction, maliciousdis-, mis-−not or wrongly: dishonest, misleadNext step: EliminateMaliciousmal- = bad
Negative: meaning harm
Benevolentbene- = good
Positive: kind
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4
Use the filter to eliminate
Even when you don’t know the exact meaning, knowing the feeling is often enough to remove two or three choices.
Next step: StrengthExample“Obstinate” sounds negative to you, but you are not sure. Choices: stubborn, cheerful, generous, kind.
- Cheerful, generous and kind are all positive: out.
- Only stubborn is negative.
Answer Stubborn
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5
Strength matters too
Words of the same feeling can differ in strength: displeased, angry, furious. Match the strength as well as the direction when two choices share a feeling.
Next step: CheckMilddispleased
a little unhappy
Strongfurious
extremely angry
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6
Check: same meaning and same feeling
The right answer matches both: what the word means and how it feels. A choice with the right meaning but the opposite feeling (thrifty for stingy) is still wrong.
ShortcutSwap test
Put the choice in place of the word. If the sentence suddenly sounds like praise when it was a complaint, or the other way round, it is the wrong choice.
4 traps in the answer choices
The test writes its wrong answers on purpose: each one is what you get if you make one of these mistakes.
Right meaning, wrong feeling
Stingy most nearly means:
Wrongthrifty
Rightmiserly
Ignoring the sentence’s mood
“The reporter’s ___ questions annoyed the mayor.”
Wrongcurious
Rightnosy
Wrong strength
Furious most nearly means:
Wrongdispleased
Rightenraged
Look-alike words
Malicious most nearly means:
Wrongdelicious
Rightmeaning harm
5 questions at test level
Pick an answer, then read why. No timer, no account.
Which word means “careful with money” in a positive way?
Show the answer
C. Stingy and cheap criticize; greedy means wanting too much. Thrifty praises someone for not wasting money. The answer is thrifty.
“The reporter’s ___ questions annoyed the mayor.” Which word best fits?
Show the answer
B. “Annoyed” means the questions were unwelcome, so the word must be negative. Only nosy is. The answer is nosy.
Which word has a positive connotation?
Show the answer
C. All four describe someone who does not give up easily, but stubborn, pushy and obstinate are complaints. Determined is praise. The answer is determined.
Malicious most nearly means:
Show the answer
B. The prefix mal- means bad, and a malicious act is done on purpose to hurt. Delicious only sounds similar. Malicious most nearly means meaning harm.
Which pair has nearly the same meaning but opposite connotations?
Show the answer
A. Slim is a compliment and skinny often a criticism, though both mean thin. The other pairs feel the same. The answer is slim / skinny.
10 flashcards
Tap a card to flip it. Keep the ones you miss until they stick.
All 10 cards known.
You finished connotation.
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Next topic: The precise meaningSee this topic move.
In the course, every topic is drawn step by step on a whiteboard while a voice explains it, with timed practice tests and a plan for your test date. The first lessons of every module are free.
