What are sentinyms? Sentinyms are words that convey the same concept, but with different sentiments.

eg: Unite, combine, conquer

“King Kamahameha united the Hawaiian Islands”

It is in the same category as synonym, antonym, hyponym, or homonym, among others.

Thinking about sentinyms helps us realize that a set of facts can be phased under different lights by changing out words.

Examples of Sentinyms

• Economic Framing:

  • “Did you invest money in new shoes?” (positive)
  • “Did you spend money on new shoes?” (neutral)
  • “Did you waste money on new shoes?” (negative)

• Change in Government:

  • “The people chose to reform the previous regime” (positive)
  • “The people chose to transition the previous regime” (neutral)
  • “The people chose to overthrow the previous regime” (negative)

• Workload: “Can you help me out? …”

  • “I have a challenge for you.” (positive)
  • “I have a task for you.” (neutral)
  • “I have a burden for you.” (negative)

Why Sentinyms Matter

1. Cognitive Awareness: They illustrate how our understanding and interpretation of facts are colored by language.
2. Critical Thinking: Recognizing sentinyms helps us decode bias in communication.
3. Empathy in Expression: Being mindful of sentinyms can foster clarity and compassion in writing or speech.