Figurative Language - What Is Figurative Language and Its Examples

Learn something about figurative language here!

FIGURATIVE LANGUAGE – Here are the common types of figurative language with examples and further understanding of what this means.

Grammarly defines figurative language like this: “a way of expressing oneself that does not use a word’s strict or realistic meaning. Common in comparisons and exaggerations, it’s usually used to add creative flourish to written or spoken language or explain a complicated idea.”

Simply speaking, this language uses simple and common words but combines them together in a different way to refer to something indirectly speaking about it. Using this type of language can make you convey a complicated meaning and clarity. This also gives color to one’s writing. It promotes creative wording. It creates a tone that provokes thinking and sometimes, carries humor.

Here are some types of figurative language with some examples:

SIMILE – compares two concepts by using words such as “like” or “as”

Example:
I felt so dizzy like my whole being was entirely being shaken.
He smiled like a devil.

METAPHOR – this is the same as the simile but without the words “like” or “as”

Example:
A warrior that has a heart of stone.
She gave me a Cheshire cat grin.

HYPERBOLE – exaggeration of things to express humor or stress a point

Example:
I cried a river when he left me.
I received tons of money from my previous job.

PERSONIFICATION – the way of projecting human qualities to non-living objects

Example:
The months of January, February, and March always pass by slowly.
The wailing of my alarm clock every morning annoys me.

SYNECDOCHE – using a word to represent a whole

Example:
The captain commanded hundred of sails.
(sails is referring to ships)
He asked for my hand.
(asked for my hand refers to asking a woman to marry)

ONOMATOPOEIA – describing the sound of something or an inanimate object

Example:
The whispers of the wind.
The plates are squeaky clean.