Do you know the definition of denotative? This article will provide you with all of the information you need on the word denotative, including its definition, etymology, usage, example sentences, and more!
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According to Collins English Dictionary and the American Heritage Unabridged Dictionary of the English Language, the word denotative is an adjective that means explicit or overt. Denotative is four syllables – de-no-ta-tive, and the pronunciation of denotative is dɪˈnəʊtətɪv.
According to CSUN, the denotative meaning of words is distinct from the connotative meaning of words. Someone might use the word snake to denotatively describe scaly, legless, sometimes venomous reptiles having a long, tapering, cylindrical body and found in most tropical and temperate regions. Someone might connotatively use the word snake to describe something that is evil or dangerous. This is their denotation and connotation. This could also happen with the literal meaning of a word like expatriate, golden daffodils, fluttering physicality, a breeze, a red rose, brown cross, green stem, uprising, riot, clarity, mockingbird, and more. Ernest Hemingway, Harper Lee, William Wordsworth Jake Barnes and other authors use the connotation of words rather than the literal definition of a word to create powerful writing and specific language in a novel. Connotation is also used frequently in advertising, such as the red rose as a symbol of passion or a brown cross as a symbol of Christianity. In advertising, one should stick to the positive connotation of the meanings words rather than their negative connotations. There are a large set of meanings of a word in connotation, but in the process of denoting, only one direct meaning, explicit meaning, or particular meaning.
Many different languages also contain words that mean denotative. You may notice in this list of translations of denotative from Word Sense that several of these words look and sound a lot like one another. These are called cognates, which are often formed when two words in different languages have the same root or language of origin, but translations can also be found in a Spanish dictionary or German dictionary digital edition.
According to Etymonline, the word denotative has been used since the c17 and comes from the Latin denotat-, which is the past participle of dēnotāre.
What are synonyms and antonyms of denotative?
There are many different words that a person could use in place of the word denotative. These words are known as synonyms, which have the same definition as another word or phrase. Learning synonyms is a great way to expand your English language written or spoken English. This list of synonyms for the word denotative is provided by Power Thesaurus.
denoting
allegorical
referent
apocalyptic
narrow
symbolical
expressed
associational
tropological
armorial
meaty
marking
inauspicious
descriptive
ideographic
auspicious
pregnant
designatory
figurative
intelligible
parabolic
naming
signalizing
augural
intensional
pithy
definite
full of substance
significative
metaphorical
identifying
peculiar
characteristic
figural
expressive
emblematic
pointing to
denotational
prescript
demonstrative
symbolic
definable
representative
readable
indicatory
significant
directive
meaning
exhibitive
motivational
evincive
pointed
explicit
extended
connotative
ominous
unrhetorical
pathognomonic
evidential
signifying
indicating
referential
exhibitory
extensional
illustrative
semiotic
suggestive
full of meaning
interpretable
implicative
indicative
literal
denominative
typical
representational
allusive
idiosyncratic
designating
revealing
appellative
referring
lexical
sententious
pointing
indicial
connotational
symptomatic
designative
meaningful
iconic
implying
emblematical
semantic
revelatory
denotive
diagnostic
metaphoric
full of point
show
prognostic
There are also several different words that have the opposite meaning of the word paste. These opposite words are known as antonyms. Learning antonyms is another great way to expand your English language vocabulary quickly and easily. These antonyms of denotative are also provided by Power Thesaurus.
denotive
suggestive
pregnant
significative
pointing to
intelligible
characteristic
implying
indirect
redolent
full of meaning
impressionistic
indicating
implied
signifying
symbological
diagnostic
semantic
meaningful
meaning
inexplicit
evidential
implicative
hinting
allegoric
transferred
apocalyptic
prognostic
extended
idiosyncratic
significatory
denotative
signalizing
anagogical
implicational
significant
definable
evocative
exhibitory
semiotic
symbolistic
naming
ominous
allegorical
designatory
connotative of
symbolic
exhibitive
metaphorical
evincive
indicatory
illustrative
symptomatic
denotational
indicative
emblematic
typical
connotational
extensional
representative
iconic
interpretable
augural
associational
substantial
implicit
allusive
sententious
ideographic
identifying
symptomatologic
evocatory
intensional
betokening
full of point
auspicious
pathognomonic
full of substance
pithy
testatory
inferential
symbolical
readable
figural
armorial
inauspicious
designative
pointed
denominative
demonstrative
reminiscent
figurative
peculiar
expressive
testimonial
meaty
suggesting
indicial
referential
connotative
referring
How can the word denotative be used in a sentence?
The word denotative can be used in many different ways in the English language. Using words in a sentence is a great way to remember their definitions and add them to your everyday vocabulary. To learn new words you could also try making flashcards or quizzes to test your knowledge of different definitions. Try to use this word of the day in a sentence today! You never know, it could become a new favorite word.
Kristeva’s obscene language was denotative of her anger, but connotative of someone who grew up not being able to swear.
At Princeton University, the professor taught the difference between the connotative and denotative meaning of words.
Overall, the word denotative means the specific meaning of a word that a learner might find in America’s largest dictionary. This is different from the meanings of words connotatively, in which their class of objects are determined by feeling. This word is great for systematic vocabulary improvement.
Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.