Two words can mean nearly the same thing yet feel opposite. Connotation is the feeling a word carries — its positive, negative, or neutral charge. On close calls, charge is the tiebreaker.
Near-synonyms, opposite charge
| Neutral / positive | Negative |
|---|---|
| thrifty, frugal | stingy, miserly |
| confident, assured | arrogant, cocky |
| curious, inquisitive | nosy, prying |
| slender, slim | scrawny, gaunt |
| determined, resolute | stubborn, obstinate |
Each pair shares a denotation (dictionary meaning) but a different connotation (feeling).
The method: set the charge, then match
- Read the sentence for its attitude — is the writer approving or disapproving?
- Decide the required charge
- Eliminate every choice with the wrong charge, even if its meaning is close.
Example: "Everyone admired her ___ saving habits." "admired" sets a positive charge, so thrifty (＋), not stingy
Denotation gets you to a cluster of similar words; connotation picks the exact one. Read the sentence's attitude before you choose.
Sarcasm and "so-called"
Watch for irony: "his ___ generosity" after a stingy act may demand a word that is positive on the surface but negative in effect. Let the surrounding attitude, not the word alone, set the charge.