Jackknife / switchblade rumble / contest hood / fighter disagree / bicker hit / clobber Which words have positive or neutral connotations? _____________________________________ Which words have negative connotations? _____________________________________

Let's take the one-by-one:

I'd say this word has a neutral connotation. It can be used to describe a type of knife used by campers and hunters, and also to describe a kind of highway accident (as in "The truck jackknifed on the highway").

Another word that describes a type of knife. At one time it may have held a negative connotation (due to its hidden blade and the press-of-a-button activation) but if it still does, I'd consider it to be pretty light. Unfortunately, the world now needs big explosives used in place of other words to catch much negative connotation (as in "He blew that idea up"). However, since the word immediately follows "jackknife" in the list, your instructor may be expecting this solidly in the negative category.

This word refers to a fight between two or more groups. Often used to refer to gang fights (or at least it used to, with the use of brutal and bloody weapons such as clubs embedded with nails, chains embedded with razors, etc). This word does carry a negative connotation.

Refers to some sort of event where people, through hard work, experience, education, etc. vie to win. Positive connotation word.

A covering over an engine, a stove, a head, or some other thing like that. Neutral connotation when used that way. However, it can also carry a negative connotation (as in "I hired a guy to get back at Jerry. He's a hood and a thug.")

Most of the time, this holds a positive connotation - the attitude of an individual to struggle against overwhelming odds to achieve victory. This is true whether it's their job (as in a boxer, martial artist, etc) or they are in dire circumstances (as in "Grandma's body is full of cancer, but she's a fighter"). Could be used to denote a negative when the fighter's attitude clashes with the environment they are in (as in "Well... little Jimmy is a fighter. He disrupts his kindergarten class and pushes the other children out of the way to get to the snacks first")

Usually holds a neutral connotation in that it denotes someone's polite view that someone else's view is incorrect. However, the word "disagreeable" is definitely negative - it refers to someone who will always disagree, no matter the topic.

A negative connotation word referring to how little kids argue. (Hey! That's mine!... No it isn't!.. Yes it is! Gimme!!! Mom!!!!!!!!!)

A neutral connotation word in the sense that it can refer to the act of making contact with one thing on another (as in "To hit a nail with a hammer" for instance). Can be positive (as in "The baseball player got a hit"). Can also be negative (as in "I'm tired of you two bickering and hitting each other!!!"). In general, however, I'd say it has a neutral connotation.

Also refers to hitting and again, this can go to the positive ("The baseball player clobbered that ball - it's sailing out of the park!") but usually is used in a more negative way ("I was so angry I didn't just hit him, I clobbered him. He's in hospital now...").