Last Updated on September 29, 2021
Most of us have used simile in our everyday conversations. Consciously or not, it is one of the most commonly used figures of speech that is now entering our everyday vocabulary. Knowing the various similes can be helpful, especially for aspirants of competitive examinations like IELTS, GRE, TOEFL, etc.
To help you understand what this literary device is and how it is used, this article provides detailed guidance on definitions and examples of simile, and how it can be used in a sentence.
Table of Contents
Meaning of Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things that have similar properties or characteristics. Similes are often confused with metaphors, which is another different figure of speech used for comparison. The easiest way to identify a simile as opposed to a metaphor is to look for the words ‘like’ or ‘as’. Thus, the best examples of simile include ‘as’ or ‘like’ such as “as cute as a kitten”.
100 Examples of Simile
Now that you are familiar with what simile means, we have compiled a comprehensive list of some of the popular examples of similes you must know about! Check out the following list of similes:
1. As black as coal
Example: His face became as black as coal after being criticised.
2. As blind as a bat
Example: My uncle is as blind as a bat without his spectacles.
3. As cool as a cucumber
Example: While all of us were panicking just before the declaration of the results, Naina was as cool as a cucumber.
4. As brave as a lion
Example: While fighting the war, the soldier was as brave as a lion.
5. Cunning like a fox
Example: Don’t trust his words, he is cunning like a fox.
6. As cold as ice
Example: The expression on her face was as cold as ice.
7. As busy as a bee
Example: My wife is as busy as a bee in the mornings.
8. As clean as a whistle
Example: The maid has done a good job, the hall is as clean as a whistle
9. As soft as velvet
Example: I just love my new blanket, it is as soft as velvet!
10. As sharp as a razor
Example: In spite of being over 75 years of age, my grandmother’s mind is as sharp as a razor.
11. As white as snow
Example: The clothes she wore were as white as snow.
12. As white as a ghost
Example: Her face became as white as a ghost when she spotted the burglar in her house.
13. As fresh as a daisy
Example: You still look as fresh as a daisy after finishing all the work!
14. As stiff as a board
Example: I am sure that he is very nervous, he is standing as stiff as a board on the stage.
15. As proud as a peacock
Example: She is as proud as a peacock after getting selected for the lead role in the drama.
16. As gentle as a lamb
Example: My grandmother may seem scary to others, but she is actually as gentle as a lamb.
17. As bright as a button
Example: She seems to be as bright as a button!
18. As strong as an ox
Example: Although he has lost some weight, he is still as strong as an ox.
19. As hot as hell
Example: How can you bear to go out in this weather? It is as hot as hell!
20. As tough as leather
Example: My brother can help you in moving all these furniture, he is as tough as leather!
21. As bright as the moon
Example: Her eyes shined as bright as the moon on receiving her birthday gift.
22. As thin as a rake
Example: How can you eat so much and still be as thin as a rake?
23. As wise as an owl
Example: This problem seems tough! You can only solve this if you are as wise as an owl!
24. As clear as crystal
Example: She loved visiting the lake high up in the mountains, whose water was as clear as crystal.
25. As smooth as silk
Example: Her voice is as smooth as silk.
26. As stubborn as mule
Example: It’s no use trying to change his mind, that man is as stubborn as a mule.
27. As silent as the grave
Example: He knew something was wrong when he found his friends as silent as the grave.
28. As light as a feather
Example: This shawl is made from very fine material, it’s as light as a feather!
29. As old as the hills
Example: Her grandmother’s love story was as old as the hills.
30. As straight as an arrow
Similes in Everyday Language
You can use similes in everyday language and that make you look as smart as a fox! You saw what we did there? Now let’s see all the similes that you can use in your everyday life.
- As innocent as a lamb
- As tough as nails
- As shiny as a new pinAs hot as hell
- As white as a ghost
- As bright as a button
- As cool as a cucumber
- As cold as ice
- As light as a feather
- As sweet as sugar
- As blind as a bat
- As common as dirt
- As tall as a giraffe
- As hard as nails
- As cute as a kitten
- As bold as brass
- As happy as a clam
- As black as coal
- As American as apple pie.
- As big as an elephant.
- As black as coal.
- As blind as a bat.
- As boring as watching paint dry.
- As brave as a lion.
- As busy as a bee.
- As cold as ice
- As cool as a cucumber
- As cunning as a fox
- As dead as a doornail
- As deaf as a post
- As difficult as nailing jelly to a tree
- As dry as a bone
- As dull as dishwater
- As easy as ABC
- As old as the hills
- As pale as death
- As fit as a fiddle
- As flat as a pancake
- As free as a bird
- As fresh as a daisy
- As gentle as a lamb
- As good as gold
- As hard as nails
- As heavy as lead
- As helpless as a baby
- As honest as the day is long
- As hot as blue blazes
- As hungry as a bear
- As cheap as dirt.
- As clean as a whistle.
- As clear as mud.
- As clear as crystal.
Similes in Classic Literature
Literature has some of the best usages of similes. From Virginia Woolf to Shakespeare, every famous writer and poet has used similes to accessorize their literature. Let’s check out some of the best examples of similes in Classic Literature:
- “Is love a tender thing? It is too rough, too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.”- Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet
- of reach.” — Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott
- “Old Marley was as dead as a door-nail.”- A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
- “The water made a sound like kittens lapping.” — The Yearling, by Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
- “Does it dry up like a raisin in the sun?
- Or fester like a sore— And then run?”— Harlem by Langston Hughes
Similes in Song Lyrics
There are many song lyrics that have used similes in their lyrics to enhance them. Let’s check them out:
- “Hit me like a ray of sun, Burning through my darkest night”- Halo by Beyonce
- “Questions of science, science and progress
- Do not speak as loud as my heart”- The Scientist by Coldplay
- “Shine bright like a diamond
- Find light in the beautiful sea
- I choose to be happy”- Diamonds by Rihanna
- “If all it’s gonna cause is pain
- Truth and my lies right now are falling like the rain
- So let the river run”- River by Eminem
- “I see both sides like Chanel
- See on both sides like Chanel”- Chanel by Frank Ocean
- ” Body Like a Back Road” By Sam Hunt
Difference Between Simile and Metaphor
The questions where one has to identify that the given sentence is a simile or a metaphor are the trickiest. Thus, while understanding or going through the examples of simile, it is important to understand the difference between simile and metaphor. Latest understand the difference between the two-
Venue comparison is made using connecting words such as ‘like’ or ‘as’ the sentence refers to simile. Whereas, whenever a direct relationship is established between two things, the sentence is a metaphor in nature.
For Example:
- He seemed bright like the sun when I met him last.
- He is the son and the sun of the family.
The first sentence depicts the use of simile whereas the second one is a metaphor.
Metaphors are considered to be stronger in nature because they directly cite a comparison between things rather than just indicating that they are similar. On the other hand, similes are majorly used for comparison where the readers are assisted to understand a subtle connection between things.
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