Simile: meaning, definitions and examples

Use to directly compare one thing to another, often with 'like' or 'as'. Common in poetry and everyday language to create vivid imagery.

• Her smile was as bright as the sun.
• He fought like a lion.

Useful for explaining complex ideas by comparing them to something simpler or more familiar. Often used in teaching, writing, or argumentation to facilitate understanding.

• Explaining the internet as a highway where data travels.
• Describing DNA as a blueprint for the body.

A literary device where one thing is described as another to suggest a similarity without using 'like' or 'as'. Common in literature and everyday speech to create powerful imagery and express ideas more vividly.

• Time is a thief.
• He has a heart of stone.

General term for noting similarities or differences between two or more things. Used in a variety of contexts, such as academic writing, reviews, or everyday discussions.

• A comparison between the climates of two countries.
• The comparison of their work styles revealed some key differences.

Use 'simile' when you want to make a comparison between two different things using 'like' or 'as' in a literary or poetic context.

• Her smile was as bright as the sun.
• He ran like the wind.

Use 'resemblance' to talk about the similarity between people, objects, or phenomena, typically more general and less formal than 'likeness'.

• He bears a close resemblance to his father.
• There is a striking resemblance between their ideas.

The word 'likeness' is suitable for denoting the state or fact of being like or similar, often used in formal contexts or in descriptions of physical appearance or character.

• There is a strong likeness between the siblings.
• The statue bears a striking likeness to the ancient king.

Choose 'parallel' when talking about concepts, situations or events that are similar and may suggest a comparison, often in more intellectual or abstract contexts.

• The struggles of the two movements run parallel.
• There is a clear parallel between these economic theories.