Positive Connotation

Paired Associations

When you think of the word 'balloon', what do you think of? A birthday party, carnival, maybe a hot air balloon? A balloon is a common object; however, there are different associations that individuals pair with words depending on life experiences.

When talking about grammar, the same goes for emotional connections. There are some words that have positive associations, some negative, and the rest are neutral. These associations are a word's connotation. This lesson focuses on positive connotations.

Positive Connotation Examples

A positive connotation is a positive or good association that connects to a specific word. The connotation makes the word seem pleasant or affirmative in the context it's used.

Take a look at the word smell.

Kevin 'smelled' something coming from the kitchen. He put his book down and went to investigate.

The word 'smell' does not inform the reader if it is a good or a bad smell; therefore, it has a neutral connotation. What if 'smell' was replaced with the word 'aroma?' What would change?

There was an 'aroma' coming from the kitchen. Kevin put his book down and went to investigate.

The word 'aroma' has a positive connotation. It means whatever is in the kitchen smells good. Therefore, one could assume Kevin smells someone's delicious cooking.

What about using the word 'stench?

There was a 'stench' coming from the kitchen. Kevin put his book down and went to investigate.

The word 'stench' has a negative connotation and makes us think Kevin smells something bad or rotten.

Here's another example. How about the word 'work?'

Lashawn 'worked' on her final exam paper.

How does Lashawn feel about working on her paper? There are no hints in this sentence because the word 'work' is neutral.

What if the word was changed to 'agonized?'

Lashawn 'agonized' over her final exam paper.

Well, that doesn't sound like fun. By using the word 'agonize,' a negative connotation that shows the experience was emotionally painful has been added.

Consider a positive connotation. How about this:

Lashawn 'effortlessly' completed her final exam paper.

The word 'effortlessly' has a positive connotation and shows she was able to complete the paper with little to no effort.

Finally, take the word 'visitor.' The word has a neutral connotation; it doesn't have a positive or negative association. When one thinks of a visitor, he or she may think of a guest in one's home.

See what happened there? Immediately the word 'visitor' changed to the word 'guest,' which has a positive connotation. A guest is someone that is invited and is welcome. But what about the word 'intruder?' Now one starts to think negatively and pair the word with images such as burglar, thief, and breaking and entering. Each word connects to the idea of someone entering into a specific place, but each word's connotation tells us about who the person is and whether or not they were invited.

Words with Positive Connotation

There is an endless list of words that have positive connotations. Individuals look at a word, the context, and then decide based on its definition if the word has an association to a positive or negative feeling. Consider the positive and negative connotations connected to these words:

Notice that the pairs of words are similar in meaning, but substituting one for the other changes the feeling an individual will associate with it.