Negative Connotation Examples

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Words have its literal meaning when you look up in the dictionary. But how about when we use those same words to associate feelings and emotions? Is there a dictionary for that? Don’t bank on it. The association of feelings and emotions to words are called connotations. There are two types of connotations: positive and negative connotations. When you hear a word that gives you negative vibe, negative connotations are used. We will be discussing more on that in this article.

Negative connotations can be used to your advantage but at the same time, it can also something you should avoid– it all boils down to the purpose. Take for example having an online shop. You cannot sell if you are describing your products with negativity and distaste. Using negative connotations, in that case, wouldn’t be helpful. But what if you are writing a story that centers on fear or dread? Negative connotation is the only way that can effectively execute your story.

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What is a Negative Connotation?

A connotation is the emotional and imaginative meaning surrounding a word. A negative connotation meanwhile, is a type of connotation that implies something that is negative or something informal.

What is the Difference Between Positive and Negative Connotations

There are two types of connotations which are positive connotations and negative connotations. You may also see Positive and Negative Connotations.

Even if it is difficult for some people, it is rather easy to tell the difference between positive and negative connotations. It’s only a matter of listening to the words and understanding the feelings it tries to communicate. For example, you are to make a sentence about an outfit. How would you analyze it in a more criticizing manner? Would you scrutinize the outfit? Or would you study the outfit? If you are to “study” the outfit, it would have a positive connotation because it leans more towards analyzing rather than criticizing. Whereas using the word “scrutinizing”, it exudes a negative impression and leans more towards criticizing rather than analyzing. You may also see Connotation and Denotation Examples.

Examples of Negative Connotations and its Positive Counterpart

Negative Connotation: The office is filled with boxes that are crammed with documents.

Positive Connotation phrase counterpart: a box filled with documents

 

Negative Connotation: The fashion model scrutinized my outfit when I passed in front of her.

Positive Connotation phrase counterpart: studying someone’s outfit

 

Negative Connotation: The company had a loss last year.

Positive Connotation phrase counterpart: the company earned a profit

 

Negative Connotation: I become a stingy person every time my siblings would ask me to accompany them to the mall.

Positive Connotation phrase counterpart: an accommodating person

 

Negative Connotation: You do not belong here in our clique.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: group

 

Negative Connotation: The students argued with their teacher about the results of the inter-school competition.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: debate

 

Negative Connotation: He keeps on forcing me to go to the after party.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: convince

 

Negative Connotation: She felt depressed after watching a romantic drama on the television.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: sentimental

 

Negative Connotation: The new manager has this air of arrogance all over him.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: confidence

 

Negative Connotation: My father said that it was already impossible to fix a second hand, beat-up pickup truck.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: fixable

 

Negative Connotation: I prefer buying low-quality items when going to the grocery.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: economical

 

Negative Connotation: Lauren’s handwriting is scrawny like her body.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: thin or lean

 

Negative Connotation: My neighbors are so noisy in their conversations.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: lively

 

Negative Connotation: Her children are so hyperactive that they disturbed the entire ceremony.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: energetic

 

Negative Connotation: The stench of my brother’s poor cooking skills wafted across the house.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: aroma

 

Negative Connotation: Her obsession with chocolates is getting out of hand.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: avocation

 

Negative Connotation: The kidnappers hid her in a cabin near the woods.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: hotel

 

Negative Connotation: My foolhardy brother goes against my parents’ wishes for him to become a pilot.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: courageous

 

Negative Connotation: My favorite dirty diner place is just two blocks away from the office.

Positive Negative Connotation word counterpart: café or bistro

 

Negative Connotation: The tree huggers are protesting against the president about global warming.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: environmentalists

 

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Negative Connotation: My sneaky seatmate copied my answers during the exam.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: opportunistic

 

Negative Connotation: The new university president is bossy.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: confident

 

Negative Connotation: She won the award because she was aggressive during the competition.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: assertive

 

Negative Connotation: I ordered him to turn off the air conditioner because it was already getting too cold.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: chilly

 

Negative Connotation: I thought she was going for a dull look during her wedding.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: natural

 

Negative Connotation: The sly cat jumped from one table to another.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: clever

 

Negative Connotation: The baby cackled creepily at 3 in the morning.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: giggled

 

Negative Connotation: The president’s snob wife arrived at the venue of the press conference.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: friendly

 

Negative Connotation: The vigilantes chased after me when I increased my speed beyond the required speed limit.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: police officers

 

Negative Connotation: The model looks so skinny in that she was the perfect choice to represent the fashion show.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: slender

 

Negative Connotation: The corrupt politicians gathered in the session hall earlier than expected.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: statesmen

 

Negative Connotation: A creepy looking man smirked at me when I passed in front of the store.

Positive Connotation word counterpart: smiled

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Examples of Negative Connotations in Literature

William Shakespeare’s The Merchant

ANTONIO: Hie thee, gentle Jew.
The Hebrew will turn Christian: he grows kind.

This is a negative connotation towards the Jews.

William Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet

JULIET: What’s Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot, Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part Belonging to a man. O! be some other name: What’s in a name? That which we call a rose By any other name would smell as sweet.

Juliet Capulet says a negative connotation because it reminds her of the family feud between the Capulets and Montagues, although she has no ill-feelings towards her lover Romeo Montague.

Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind (2004)

Clementine: I apply my personality into paste.
Joel: Oh, I doubt that very much.
Clementine: Well, you don’t know me so… you don’t know, do you?
Joel: Sorry, I was… just trying to be nice.
Clementine: Yeah… I got it…
Clementine: … I’m Clementine, by the way.
Joel: I’m Joel.
Clementine: Hi, Joel.
Clementine: No jokes about my name… Nooo, you wouldn’t do that. You were trying to be nice.
Joel: I don’t know any jokes about your name.

The word nice has a negative connotation according to Clementine. To her, nice means dull, plain, and ordinary.

To conclude, it is best if you use negative connotations with caution. You might not know the words you say are already affecting the people but you are having conversations with.

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