Effected, you haven’t told us the point of learning this supposed skill. Why does it help to know if something is a ‘positive word’? You would never be asked that, I think.
You might be asked about the author’s attitude—is she recommending or condemning. She might write, «Closing schools in poor areas is an ignoble experiment.»
Taking the word ‘euthanasia’ in the news today [‘eu’ being a positive prefix, signifying goodness, ease, pleasure], suppose the headline said, «Pope calls ‘assisted dying’ bill a legalization of euthanasia.» The prefix is not going to tell you that we are dealing with condemnation.
Here is the headline, today’s Toronto Star:
Quebec euthanasia bill could become law before election
Four years of study, debate could come to an end this week with Quebec’s likely adoption of landmark euthanasia legislation, rushed into law ahead of an anticipated provincial election.
==
So how would the ‘positive’ or ‘negative’ word skill be used, here?
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Negative as an adjective:
Not positive or neutral.
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Negative as an adjective (physics):
Of electrical charge of an electron and related particles
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Negative as an adjective (mathematics):
Of a number: less than zero
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Negative as an adjective (linguistics, logic):
Denying a proposition.
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Negative as an adjective:
Damaging; undesirable; unfavourable.
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Negative as an adjective:
Often used pejoratively: pessimistic; not tending to see the bright side of things.
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Negative as an adjective:
Of or relating to a photographic image in which the colours of the original, and the relations of left and right, are reversed.
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Negative as an adjective (chemistry):
Metalloidal, nonmetallic; contrasted with positive or basic.
Examples:
«The nitro group is negative.»
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Negative as an adjective ([[New Age]] [[jargon]], pejorative):
Often preceded by , , , or : to be avoided, bad, difficult, disagreeable, painful, potentially damaging, unpleasant, unwanted.
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Negative as an adjective:
Characterized by the presence of features which do not support a hypothesis.
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Negative as a noun:
Refusal or withholding of assents; prohibition, veto
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Negative as a noun (law):
A right of veto.
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Negative as a noun (photography):
An image in which dark areas represent light ones, and the converse.
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Negative as a noun (grammar):
A word that indicates negation.
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Negative as a noun (mathematics):
A negative quantity.
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Negative as a noun (weightlifting):
A rep performed with weight in which the muscle begins at maximum contraction and is slowly extended; a movement performed using only the eccentric phase of muscle movement.
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Negative as a noun:
The negative plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.
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Negative as a verb (transitive):
To refuse; to veto.
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Negative as a verb (transitive):
To contradict.
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Negative as a verb (transitive):
To disprove.
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Negative as a verb (transitive):
To make ineffective; to neutralize.
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Positive as an adjective:
Not negative or neutral.
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Positive as an adjective (legal):
Formally laid down.
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Positive as an adjective:
Stated definitively and without qualification.
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Positive as an adjective:
Fully assured in opinion.
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Positive as an adjective (mathematics):
Of number, greater than zero.
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Positive as an adjective:
Characterized by constructiveness or influence for the better.
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Positive as an adjective:
Overconfident, dogmatic.
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Positive as an adjective (chiefly, philosophy):
Actual, real, concrete, not theoretical or speculative.
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Positive as an adjective (physics):
Having more protons than electrons.
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Positive as an adjective (grammar):
Describing the primary sense of an adjective, adverb or noun; not comparative, superlative, augmentative nor diminutive.
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Positive as an adjective:
Derived from an object by itself; not dependent on changing circumstances or relations; absolute.
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Positive as an adjective:
Characterized by the existence or presence of distinguishing qualities or features, rather than by their absence.
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Positive as an adjective:
Characterized by the presence of features which support a hypothesis.
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Positive as an adjective (photography):
Of a visual image, true to the original in light, shade and colour values.
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Positive as an adjective:
Favorable, desirable by those interested or invested in that which is being judged.
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Positive as an adjective:
Wholly what is expressed; colloquially downright, entire, outright.
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Positive as an adjective:
Optimistic.
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Positive as an adjective (chemistry):
electropositive
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Positive as an adjective (chemistry):
basic; metallic; not acid; opposed to negative, and said of metals, bases, and basic radicals.
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Positive as an adjective (slang):
HIV positive.
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Positive as an adjective ([[New Age]] [[jargon]]):
Good, desirable, healthful, pleasant, enjoyable; (often precedes ‘energy’, ‘thought’, ‘feeling’ or ’emotion’).
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Positive as a noun:
A thing capable of being affirmed; something real or actual.
Examples:
«rfquotek South»
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Positive as a noun:
A favourable point or characteristic.
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Positive as a noun:
Something having a positive value in physics, such as an electric charge.
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Positive as a noun (grammar):
A degree of comparison of adjectives and adverbs.
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Positive as a noun (grammar):
An adjective or adverb in the positive degree.
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Positive as a noun (photography):
A positive image; one that displays true colors and shades, as opposed to a negative.
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Positive as a noun:
The positive plate of a voltaic or electrolytic cell.
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Positive as a noun:
A positive result of a test.
I frequently correct people (being a semantics freak) and tell them that a negative statement is a statement that denies, while a positive statement is one that affirms.
You’re close. The word negative suffers from multiple meanings and few synonyms. In the sense you are using it, «negative» is correct, but the opposite of negative is not «positive.» The opposite of «negative» in this sense is «affirmative.»
If I were to restate your sentence then,
…a negative statement is a statement that negates (same meaning as denies in this sense), while an affirmative statement is one that affirms.
In this sense, a negative statement would be «I am not a cat.»
Meanwhile, an affirmative statement would be «I am a human being.»
Negative and positive are opposites in other senses. Mathematically, there are positive (+) numbers, and negative (-) numbers. I can have a positive (good) attitude, or a negative (bad) attitude.
Just as «good» is the opposite of «bad» and of «evil,» «negative»s meaning depends on what you contrast it with. I hope this helps!
Connotation is the use of a word to propose a dissimilar link than its accurate meaning, which known as denotation. For example, pink is a color, but it is also a word used to describe a feeling of shyness or happiness, as in: “She’s feeling pink.”
Connotations can be positive, negative, or neutral. Authors generally use dissimilar connotations to insert many layers of meaning into a word, phrase, or passage. Take this sentence, for example: “The dog is fat.” It has neutral connotations because it simply a statement of fact. However, the same sentence is rewritten as “The dog is chubby” has negative connotations. the word “chubby” implies the dog has a careless owner who doesn’t care.
Now let us work on the types of connotation.
Three types of Connotations in writing:
- Positive connotation. Words that conjure a favorable emotional response. For example, when relating someone ambitious as a “go-getter” or someone who is lively and curious as “youthful.”
- Negative connotation. When a negative connotation is made, it presents the person or a thing in an opposed light. Using the examples above, the same ambitious person might be described as an “overachiever”. while the curious person might be referred to as “childish.”
- Neutral connotation. When a word says what it means with a neutral point of view, and no attached positive or negative. The statement, “He is ambitious” suggests a person works hard and strives to achieve. without judgment on whether ambition is a good or a bad thing.
We should also understand why connotation in writing is important.
Importance of Connotation for Author
Connotation is an important part of the author’s word choice. Words carry weight and can, individually and together, create a certain tone for a sentence, passage, scene, or entire story. it can also be used to:
- Write a multidimensional text. Connotation is useful in creating imagery. For example, the description “He was dressed like an animal” gives the reader a better visual sense of someone’s dress and sense of style than simply saying, “He was messy.” We have 5 types of imagery in English literature where connotations are really useful.
- Develop characters. Readers visualize a story based on the descriptions a writer provides. If a character is described with positive connotations, readers will like them more.
- Draw emotion out of language. Connotation draws emotion out of language, for both the writer and reader.
Examples of Positive, Negative and Neutral Connotations
Following are some examples of connotations:
| Negative | Neutral | Positive |
| Arrogant | Self-assured | Confident |
| Strange | Different | Unique |
| Stench | Scent | Aroma |
| Naive | Inexperienced | Fresh |
| Obsessed | Highly Interested | Infatuated |
| Fearful | Hesitant | Cautious |
| Old | Senior | Experienced |
| Pushy | Insistent | Assertive |
| Lazy | Laidback | Relaxed |
| Skinny | Thin | Fit |
| Mushy | Sentimental | Sweet |
| Hyperactive | Active | Energetic |
Now’s now summarize everything what we have learned using an easy-to-understand image.
Quick Links
Positive and Negative Adjective Descriptions & Lists
Can you think of the last time you told someone how you really felt at that moment? What kinds of words did you use to express your feelings?
Chances are, you used a positive or a negative adjective to describe your feelings about that specific person, place, thing, or idea. Whenever you share your feelings with someone, you use describing words, also known as adjectives or words that describe nouns. These words play an important role in the English language and help describe things and communicate how you think and feel.
Without noun describers, it’s difficult to express how you feel about the people, places, and things around you. What’s great about descriptive words is that you can use them to describe your own unique feelings, and there are so many different ones to choose from depending on the topic or situation.
Two types of adjectives that help us do this are positive adjectives and negative adjectives. Let’s dive in to see how these types of words can help you better express yourself both in conversation and in your writing.
Every describing word has meaning. Some evoke “good” feelings, while others evoke “bad” feelings. By using positive adjectives and negative adjectives, you express your thoughts and help someone understand how you feel. These words can also potentially affect those you’re speaking about and speaking with. That’s why it’s always important to choose your words carefully.
Let’s look at an example:
- He’s very competitive.
This sentence probably forms a good mental image in your mind. Being competitive means someone is focused, engaged, and self-determined. You can understand that the person has a desire to be successful, without endangering anyone.
Next, consider this sentence:
- He’s very combative.
Combative shares a similar meaning to the word competitive, yet the “bad” traits outweigh the good. The mental image you get from this sentence is perhaps someone who wants to fight and argue. The person is not only competitive, but they are also hostile and aggressive. Competitive is a positive adjective that starts with C while combative is a negative adjective that starts with C.
As you can tell, describing words matter. That’s why it’s important to know different words that describe both the good and the bad things in life. To build your vocabulary, let’s learn more about positive adjectives and negative adjectives. But before we do that, why not learn about APA format and more citation styles?
Here’s more about the differences between positive and negative adjectives and how to use them.
Positive adjectives describe people, places, and things in a positive way. Using these noun modifiers, you can express emotions such as satisfaction, love, amusement, hope, and more.
Here are a few examples of sentences that use good emotional words:
- Steve is happy today.
- Her wise words fired up the crowd.
- Suzy’s always cooperative with her classmates.
In addition to letting you describe someone or something, you can also use noun modifiers to motivate others. When you speak to someone with positive describing words, you can help to increase their confidence and to build them up.
Here are some additional words you can use when describing someone or something:
- You’re a spectacular team captain.
- Look at your perfect math test grade.
- That outfit looks terrific on you.
How do these sentences make you feel? Most people enjoy hearing words of encouragement. Without positive adjectives, you can only make generic statements that tell the facts and nothing more.
Take a look at these examples:
- You’re a team captain!
- Look at your math test grade.
- I haven’t seen that outfit before.
As you can tell from these sentences, you can’t share your feelings without using describing words. But it’s important not to select just any word, but rather the right word. Because just one describing word can change the meaning of your whole sentence.
However, life isn’t always positive, and sometimes you need to express something negative. Perhaps you want to share feelings about people, places, or things because you’re unhappy with the way something is. In this case, you’ll probably use negative adjectives.
Here’s a quick tip: Next time you need input on your writing, try this paper checker from Citation Machine Plus. In addition, there are also citation tools to help cite your sources in MLA format and more!
What are Negative Adjectives?
Not all noun modifiers have a happy connotation. Some make listeners and readers think about sad, unpleasant, or unhappy situations or emotions. Fortunately, though, there are just as many positive describing words as there are negative.
Let’s look at our examples again and change the sentences’ meaning by adding negative adjectives:
- Steve is bossy today.
- Her cruel words fired up the crowd.
- Suzy’s always aggressive with her classmates.
Compared to the first example sentences, how do these make you feel? The kind words from before might have made you smile. Now, the images that likely appear in your head portray each situation in a more negative light.
As you can see, changing just one word in a sentence can alter the entire meaning of a sentence and make you feel a completely different way. If simply reading examples talking positively or negatively about hypothetical people can change the way you feel, just imagine how your amiable or unpleasant words can affect others in real life.
Here are more examples of how negative adjectives can be used to describe something in a harmful manner:
- You’re a narrow-minded team captain.
- Look at your lousy math test grade.
- That outfit looks horrific on you.
These examples don’t carry the same good emotions, do they? In addition to impacting how others feel, these types of words can also express how you think. Do you want to be someone who has good things to say, or someone who speaks poorly about things? Your vocabulary says a lot about who you are.
Are you an optimist who sees the best in people and situations? If so, you probably use more positive adjectives during day-to-day conversations. Or do you have more of a pessimistic view about things? If so, chances are you don’t use as many uplifting words to describe your world. Neither outlook is necessarily wrong, but either way, there are many reasons why you should increase your vocabulary of quality describing words.
Benefits of Using Positive Adjectives
One of the most important reasons to use more positive adjectives is to bring out the best in others. Want to boost someone’s spirits or help them out? Try using kind words of encouragement. In the same way, the words you use to describe a person, place, or thing can build them up with positive adjectives instead of breaking them down. Here are a few lists that will help you develop your vocabulary of positive adjectives to describe a person, place, thing, or situation in your life.
List of Positive Adjectives
Not sure where to begin? There are plenty of options for both positive and negative adjectives throughout the alphabet. We’ll go through some great options to get you started.
Positive adjectives that start with A
Here’s a list of some positive adjectives that start with the letter A you can use to describe a person, place, or thing:
- Able
- Abundant
- Above-board
- Accurate
- Achieving
- Adept
- Affordable
- Adaptable
- Amazing
- Ambitious
- Awesome
Positive adjectives that start with C
Here’s a list of some positive adjectives that start with the letter C you can use to describe a person, place, or thing:
- Careful
- Caring
- Calm
- Capable
- Certain
- Charming
- Cheerful
- Cheery
- Cherished
- Chic
- Civil
- Clean
- Clever
- Comfortable
- Cooperative
- Cordial
- Creative
- Cute
Positive adjectives that start with N
Here’s a list of some positive adjectives that start with the letter N you can use to describe a person, place, or thing:
- Natural
- Naturalistic
- Neat
- New
- Nifty
- Nice
- Notable
- Nourishing
- Novel
- Nurturing
Positive adjectives that start with T
Here’s a list of some positive adjectives that start with the letter T you can use to describe a person, place, or thing:
- Tactful
- Talented
- Taxing
- Teachable
- Thankful
- Thoughtful
- Thorough
- Thrifty
- Thrilled
- Thriving
- Timeless
- Tolerant
- Top-notch
- Touching
Here are some additional options you can add to your list of positive adjectives that start with T:
- Tantalizing
- Tasteful
- Terrific
- Tidy
- Toned
- Tranquil
- Tremendous
- Treasured
- Triumphant
- Trusted
- Trusting
- Trustworthy
- Truthful
Additional positive adjectives you can use
As you can see, there are many positive adjectives you can choose from to describe a person, place, or thing.
Here are some more options:
- Beloved
- Dapper
- Dazzling
- Excellent
- Expressive
- Faithful
- Flashy
- Forgiving
- Glamorous
- Healing
- Heroic
- Kind-hearted
- Legit
- Loving
- Luxurious
- Optimistic
- Peaceful
- Perfect
- Romantic
- Soothing
- Stunning
- Valuable
- Wonderful
Negative Adjectives You Can Use
On the contrary, here are some negative adjectives you can use to describe a person, place, thing, or situation:
- Aggressive
- Arrogant
- Boastful
- Bossy
- Boring
- Careless
- Clingy
- Cruel
- Cowardly
- Deceitful
- Dishonest
- Fussy
- Greedy
- Grumpy
- Harsh
- Impatient
- Impulsive
- Jealous
- Moody
- Narrow-minded
- Overcritical
- Rude
- Selfish
- Untrustworthy
- Unhappy
As you can see from these examples, there are many words you can use to describe a person, place, thing—both positive and negative. It’s not realistic to be positive all the time, but no matter what you say, always try your best to choose your words carefully.
Do you want more information on good and bad describing words? Take a look at this page and this further reading.
Published March 5, 2019. Updated May 22,2020.