Synonyms for simile
Most common
Definitions
- n. 1
A figure of speech in which one thing is explicitly compared to another, using e.g. like or as.
Related words
- Is a kind of
- figure of speech
Forms
- Plural
- similes → metaphors, analogies, allegories, comparisons…
Choose the right word
In modern usage we may say that an allegory is an extended simile, while a metaphor is an abbreviated simile contained often in a phrase, perhaps in a word.
J. C. Fernald, English Synonyms and Antonyms (1914)
Example sentences
- comparison Our city is rather small in comparison with Tokyo.
- metaphor Churchill uses the metaphor of building a temple.
- analogy I see no analogy between your problem and mine.
- allegory That's an allegory. Do you know what that is?
- similitude The similitude of the princess to the former queen was striking.
Popularity over time
| Word | 1850 → 2019 | Trend |
|---|---|---|
| simile | steady | |
| comparison | falling | |
| metaphor | rising | |
| analogy | steady | |
| allegory | rising | |
| similitude | steady |
Use in printed books, per decade from 1850 to 2019.
By length
- 7 letters
- analogy4
- 8 letters
- metaphor3, allegory4
- 10 letters
- comparison4, similitude
The small number after each word is its number of syllables (analogy4 = 4 syllables).