Figurative language holds incredible power for writers across all genres.
From classic literature to modern-day marketing copy, it’s a key ingredient that brings writing to life.
But what exactly is figurative language and how can you use it to create an emotional connection with your audience?
In this guide, we’ll explore the most commonly used types of figurative language, along with their definitions and examples.
We’ll also cover some best practices to help you use figurative language more effectively.
So let’s get to it.
What Is Figurative Language?
Figurative language is a literary device that uses words or phrases to mean something different than their literal interpretation.
Writers use it to add depth and richness to their writing. It can help create vivid mental images, express complex emotions, and make writing more interesting.
Here’s a simple way to think about it:
- Literal language is saying exactly what you mean
- Figurative language is saying something that isn’t meant to be taken literally
Here’s an example to help drive home the difference.
Let’s say it’s raining heavily. You could say:
“It’s raining a lot today.”
That’s a literal description of the situation.
Or, you could use figurative language to say:
“It’s raining cats and dogs.”
In this example, you’re using a figure of speech to convey the same meaning, but in a more creative way.
Common Types of Figurative Language (With Examples)
There are many different types of figurative language that writers can use to add color and depth to their writing.
Here are some of the most common ones.
Simile
A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words “like” or “as.”
For example:
“He eats like a pig.”
This simile compares the way a person eats to the way a pig eats. It suggests that the person eats in a messy or greedy way.
Similes can help readers understand concepts by connecting them to something they’re already familiar with.
Here’s another example:
“The teenage boy was as hungry as a wolf.”
In this example, the writer compares a teenage boy’s hunger to a wolf’s hunger.
Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that directly compares two different things by saying that one thing is the other.
For example:
“The world is a stage.”
This metaphor suggests that the world is like a stage and that people are like actors playing roles.
Metaphors can be a powerful way to express complex ideas and emotions in a concise and memorable way.
Here’s another example:
“Time is a thief.”
In this example, the writer suggests that time steals things from us, such as our youth and our experiences.
Hyperbole
Hyperbole is a literary device that involves extreme exaggeration.
Writers use it to create emphasis or to add humor to their writing.
Here’s an example:
“I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.”
In this example, the writer exaggerates their hunger by saying they could eat an entire horse.
Obviously, no one can eat a horse in one sitting. But saying it this way helps emphasize the speaker’s extreme hunger.
Here’s another example:
“I’m going to die if I don’t find a bathroom soon.”
This example uses hyperbole to emphasize the speaker’s urgent need to use the bathroom.
Personification
Personification is a literary device that gives human qualities to a non-human entity, such as an animal, object, or idea.
For example:
“The flowers danced in the wind.”
In this example, the flowers are given a human quality by saying they “danced.”
Writers often use personification to create vivid imagery and to help readers connect with non-human things on a human level.
Here’s another example:
“The blind man’s dog laughed when he tripped.”
In this example, the dog is given the human quality of laughter.
Allusion
An allusion is a reference to a well-known person, place, event, or work of art.
Writers use allusions to add depth and meaning to their writing by drawing on the reader’s existing knowledge.
For example:
“She had a Mona Lisa smile.”
In this example, the writer alludes to Leonardo da Vinci’s famous painting, the Mona Lisa. Readers who are familiar with the painting will understand that the woman’s smile is enigmatic and mysterious, just like the Mona Lisa’s smile.
Here’s another example:
“He was a modern-day Robin Hood.”
This allusion refers to the legendary English outlaw Robin Hood, who is famous for stealing from the rich and giving to the poor.
Oxymoron
An oxymoron is a phrase that combines two contradictory terms.
Writers often use them to create an interesting or thought-provoking contrast.
Here are some common oxymorons:
- Bittersweet
- Jumbo shrimp
- Deafening silence
Here’s another example of an oxymoron in a sentence:
“The comedian’s jokes were painfully funny.”
In this example, the writer uses the words “painfully” and “funny” to create a contrast between the opposing ideas of pain and humor.
Onomatopoeia
Onomatopoeia is the use of words that imitate the sounds they describe.
Writers use it to create vivid imagery and to make their writing more engaging.
Here are a few examples of onomatopoeic words:
- Moo
- Buzz
- Boom
- Cuckoo
- Splash
Here’s an example of onomatopoeia used in a sentence:
“The cat let out a loud meow when I stepped on its tail.”
In this sentence, the word “meow” imitates the sound that a cat makes when it meows.
Idiom
An idiom is a phrase or expression that has a different meaning than the individual words suggest.
Idioms are often specific to a particular culture or language. They can be difficult to understand for non-native speakers.
Here’s an example:
“He’s a little under the weather today.”
The idiom “under the weather” doesn’t mean that someone is physically located beneath the weather.
Instead, it means that someone is feeling sick.
Here’s another example of an idiom:
“That’s a piece of cake.”
In this example, the speaker is saying that something is easy.
Alliteration
Alliteration is the repetition of the same sound at the beginning of closely connected words.
Writers often use it to create rhythm and musicality in their writing. It can also make writing more memorable.
Here’s an example of alliteration:
“Sally sells seashells by the seashore.”
In this example, the “s” sound is repeated at the beginning of several words.
Assonance
Assonance is similar to alliteration, but it involves the repetition of vowel sounds rather than consonant sounds.
Writers use it to create rhythm and musicality in their writing.
Here’s an example:
“The rain in Spain stays mainly in the plain.”
In this example, the “ai” sound is repeated throughout the sentence.
Synecdoche
Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole.
Here’s an example:
“He’s got a nice set of wheels.”
In this sentence, “wheels” refers to the entire car.
Here’s another example:
“The Black Hats are after your private data.”
In this example, “the Black Hats” refers to a group of hackers.
Anaphora
Anaphora is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of consecutive sentences or clauses.
It’s often used in speeches and poetry to create a sense of rhythm and to emphasize a particular point.
Here’s an example of anaphora from Martin Luther King Jr.’s “I Have a Dream” speech:
“I have a dream that one day every valley shall be engulfed, every hill shall be exalted. … I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skin but by the content of their character. I have a dream today!”
In this example, the phrase “I have a dream” is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences to emphasize King’s vision for the future.
Euphemism
A euphemism is a figure of speech that uses a more polite or less offensive word or phrase to refer to something unpleasant or taboo.
Here’s an example:
“He passed away last night.”
In this sentence, the euphemism “passed away” is used to refer to the fact that someone died.
Here’s another example:
“The dog needs to be put to sleep.”
In this example, the euphemism “put to sleep” is used to refer to the fact that a dog needs to be euthanized.
Apostrophe
Apostrophe is a literary device in which a speaker addresses someone or something that isn’t present or capable of responding.
It’s often used to express strong emotions or to create a sense of intimacy.
Here’s an example:
“O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?”
In this example from Romeo and Juliet, Juliet is speaking to Romeo even though he isn’t present.
Here’s another example:
“Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are.”
This example from the nursery rhyme “Twinkle, Twinkle, Little Star” addresses a star, which is obviously unable to respond.
Metonymy
Metonymy is a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted for another with which it’s closely associated.
Here’s an example:
“The pen is mightier than the sword.”
In this example, “pen” refers to writing and “sword” refers to military power.
Here’s another example:
“The White House announced a new policy today.”
In this sentence, “the White House” is used to refer to the president of the United States or the executive branch of the US government.
Paradox
A paradox is a statement or situation that seems contradictory or absurd, but that may actually be true.
Here’s an example:
“Less is more.”
This paradox suggests that simplicity or minimalism can be more effective than complexity or excess.
Here’s another example:
“I know one thing: that I know nothing.”
This paradox suggests that the speaker’s only knowledge is that they lack knowledge.
Understatement
Understatement is a figure of speech that makes something seem less important or serious than it really is.
It’s the opposite of hyperbole.
Here’s an example:
“It’s just a small scratch.”
This understatement suggests that the damage is minor, even though it might actually be significant.
Let’s look at another example:
“He’s not the sharpest tool in the shed.”
This understatement suggests that the person isn’t very intelligent, but it does so in a more polite way.
Examples of Figurative Language in Literature
Figurative language is a key tool that writers use to create vivid imagery and express complex emotions.
Here are some examples of figurative language from classic works of literature.
Simile in “To Kill a Mockingbird” by Harper Lee
“Ladies bathed before noon, after their three-o’clock naps, and by nightfall were like soft tea cakes with frostings of sweat and sweet talcum.”
In this passage, the narrator uses a simile to compare the ladies to tea cakes covered in frosting.
This simile helps the reader imagine the way the women look and feel in the hot, humid weather.
Metaphor in “The Great Gatsby” by F. Scott Fitzgerald
“So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past.”
In this famous metaphor, Fitzgerald compares human beings to boats struggling against a powerful current.
This metaphor captures the sense of futility and struggle that many of the characters in the novel experience.
Hyperbole in “The Old Man and the Sea” by Ernest Hemingway
“He was an old man who fished alone in a skiff in the Gulf Stream and he had gone eighty-four days now without taking a fish.”
In this example, Hemingway uses hyperbole to emphasize the old man’s bad luck.
The exaggerated number of days without catching a fish highlights the old man’s determination and perseverance.
Personification in “The Road Not Taken” by Robert Frost
“Because it was grassy and wanted wear.”
In this line from the famous poem by Robert Frost, the speaker personifies the road by saying that it “wanted wear.”
This personification helps the reader understand that the road is less traveled and therefore more appealing to the speaker.
How to Use Figurative Language in Your Writing
Here are a few tips that’ll help you use figurative language in your writing more effectively.
Match the Tone
Ensure that the figurative language you choose matches the overall tone and style of the text.
For example, use formal and sophisticated language in academic writing. And use lighthearted and humorous language in marketing or advertising copy.
Matching the tone will help the figurative language feel more natural and less forced.
Keep It Simple
Avoid using overly complex or obscure figurative language that may be difficult for readers to understand.
For example, instead of saying:
“The cacophony of the city was a symphony of discordant notes.”
You could say:
“The sounds of the city were like a chaotic orchestra.”
The second example is simpler and easier to understand for most readers.
Avoid Cliches
Cliches are overused expressions that have lost their impact.
Instead of using cliches, try to create your own original figurative language that’ll surprise and engage your audience.
Use Sparingly
Too much figurative language can make your writing feel forced or artificial.
Instead, use it strategically to emphasize key points or to create a specific mood or tone.
When used sparingly, figurative language can be more impactful and memorable.