SHADES OF MEANING www.englishpriority.com 

www.englishpriority.com Words that may have a similar meaning but different connotation 

1. customer, client A customer is someone who buys goods or services. A client receives professional services. . www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

1. customer, client A customer is someone who buys goods or services. A client receives professional services. 2. job, career A job is what someone does in exchange for money. A career is a professional trajectory that includes both past and present jobs. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

1. customer, client A customer is someone who buys goods or services. A client receives professional services. 2. job, career A job is what someone does in exchange for money. A career is a professional trajectory that includes both past and present jobs. 3. coworkers, colleagues A coworker is someone who works on your team or for your company. A colleague is a professional who works in your industry, but not necessarily for the same company. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

1. customer, client A customer is someone who buys goods or services. A client receives professional services. 2. job, career A job is what someone does in exchange for money. A career is a professional trajectory that includes both past and present jobs. 3. coworkers, colleagues A coworker is someone who works on your team or for your company. A colleague is a professional who works in your industry, but not necessarily for the same company. 4. expensive, overpriced, top-of-the-line, premium Expensive simply means that something costs a lot. Overpriced means that something costs more than it should. Top of the line and premium have a positive connotation and communicate that something is high quality. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

5. rich, wealthy, well-to-do, well-off Rich is direct term that we often try to avoid. Wealthy is a more polite way to communicate that someone has a lot of money. Well-to-do and well-off are euphemistic, indirect ways to communicate that someone has a lot of money. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

5. rich, wealthy, well-to-do, well-off Rich is direct term that we often try to avoid. Wealthy is a more polite way to communicate that someone has a lot of money. Well-to-do and well-off are euphemistic, indirect ways to communicate that someone has a lot of money. 6. scheme, strategy, plot, approach, method Scheme and plot have a negative connotation. Strategy and approach sound more positive. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

5. rich, wealthy, well-to-do, well-off Rich is direct term that we often try to avoid. Wealthy is a more polite way to communicate that someone has a lot of money. Well-to-do and well-off are euphemistic, indirect ways to communicate that someone has a lot of money. 6. scheme, strategy, plot, approach, method Scheme and plot have a negative connotation. Strategy and approach sound more positive. 7. factory, manufacturing plant, sweatshop, workshop -Factory and manufacturing plant (plant) are synonyms. -Sweatshop has a negative connotation and communicates that people work long hours for little pay. -A workshop is smaller than a factory or manufacturing plant. Also, a workshop is a place where things might be manufactured and/or repaired. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

8. boss, manager, supervisor Boss has a negative connotation whereas manager and supervisor do not. Also, a supervisor is in charge of people whereas a manager may have additional responsibilities, such as meeting the financial objectives of the company. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

8. boss, manager, supervisor Boss has a negative connotation whereas manager and supervisor do not. Also, a supervisor is in charge of people whereas a manager may have additional responsibilities, such as meeting the financial objectives of the company. 9. cost, investment, expense, price Cost and price have a neutral connotation. Expense has a negative connotation. Investment has a positive connotation as it suggests that the benefit of the purchase will outweigh the cost. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

8. boss, manager, supervisor Boss has a negative connotation whereas manager and supervisor do not. Also, a supervisor is in charge of people whereas a manager may have additional responsibilities, such as meeting the financial objectives of the company. 9. cost, investment, expense, price Cost and price have a neutral connotation. Expense has a negative connotation. Investment has a positive connotation as it suggests that the benefit of the purchase will outweigh the cost. 10. sufficient, adequate, plenty Sufficient has a more positive connotation than adequate. Adequate communicates that there is “barely enough.” Plenty communicates that there is much more than what is needed. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

8. boss, manager, supervisor Boss has a negative connotation whereas manager and supervisor do not. Also, a supervisor is in charge of people whereas a manager may have additional responsibilities, such as meeting the financial objectives of the company. 9. cost, investment, expense, price Cost and price have a neutral connotation. Expense has a negative connotation. Investment has a positive connotation as it suggests that the benefit of the purchase will outweigh the cost. 10. sufficient, adequate, plenty Sufficient has a more positive connotation than adequate. Adequate communicates that there is “barely enough.” Plenty communicates that there is much more than what is needed. 11. unusual, strange, weird, unique, odd Unusual is neutral. Odd, strange, and weird have a negative connotation. Unique has a positive connotation. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

12. to look, to watch, to stare, to glare We typically use look to communicate that someone is visually focusing on something that is not moving (look at the screen, look at me, look at the picture, look at the chart/graph, etc.). We use watch to communicate that someone is visually focusing on something that is moving (watch the game, watch the race, etc.). -To stare means to look at someone without averting one’s eyes. -To glare means to stare at someone with hatred or disapproval. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

12. to look, to watch, to stare, to glare We typically use look to communicate that someone is visually focusing on something that is not moving (look at the screen, look at me, look at the picture, look at the chart/graph, etc.). We use watch to communicate that someone is visually focusing on something that is moving (watch the game, watch the race, etc.). -To stare means to look at someone without averting one’s eyes. -To glare means to stare at someone with hatred or disapproval. 13. stingy, cheap, thrifty, frugal -Stingy and cheap have negative connotations. -Thrifty and frugal have positive connotations. Also, cheap refers to not wanting to part with money, but stingy refers to not wanting to part with something of value (money, time, food, etc.). www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

12. to look, to watch, to stare, to glare We typically use look to communicate that someone is visually focusing on something that is not moving (look at the screen, look at me, look at the picture, look at the chart/graph, etc.). We use watch to communicate that someone is visually focusing on something that is moving (watch the game, watch the race, etc.). -To stare means to look at someone without averting one’s eyes. -To glare means to stare at someone with hatred or disapproval. 13. stingy, cheap, thrifty, frugal -Stingy and cheap have negative connotations. -Thrifty and frugal have positive connotations. Also, cheap refers to not wanting to part with money, but stingy refers to not wanting to part with something of value (money, time, food, etc.). 14. confident, arrogant, cocky -Confident has a positive connotation. -Arrogant and cocky have negative connotations and communicate that someone thinks they are superior to others. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

15. worker, employee, staff member, team member -Worker has a negative connotation. / Employee and staff member have a neutral connotation. -Team member has a more positive connotation. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

15. worker, employee, staff member, team member -Worker has a negative connotation. / Employee and staff member have a neutral connotation. -Team member has a more positive connotation. 16. to lay someone off, to fire someone, to let someone go, to sack someone -To fire someone or to sack someone (fire = American English, sack = British English) suggest the person did something wrong. These expressions have a negative connotation. -To lay someone off or to let someone go are euphemistic, polite terms. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

15. worker, employee, staff member, team member -Worker has a negative connotation. / Employee and staff member have a neutral connotation. -Team member has a more positive connotation. 16. to lay someone off, to fire someone, to let someone go, to sack someone -To fire someone or to sack someone (fire = American English, sack = British English) suggest the person did something wrong. These expressions have a negative connotation. -To lay someone off or to let someone go are euphemistic, polite terms. 17. quit, resign Resign sounds more professional and positive than quit. Resign suggests that prior notice was given to one’s employer. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

15. worker, employee, staff member, team member -Worker has a negative connotation. / Employee and staff member have a neutral connotation. -Team member has a more positive connotation. 16. to lay someone off, to fire someone, to let someone go, to sack someone -To fire someone or to sack someone (fire = American English, sack = British English) suggest the person did something wrong. These expressions have a negative connotation. -To lay someone off or to let someone go are euphemistic, polite terms. 17. quit, resign Resign sounds more professional and positive than quit. Resign suggests that prior notice was given to one’s employer. 18. issue, problem, setback -Issue has a more positive connotation than problem as issue communicates that something is a matter of concern, not simply a problem. -A setback is something that delays progress. www.englishpriority.com Here are some examples: 

www.englishpriority.com