Simile: What it is and how to use it in English

“Is love a tender thing? It is too rough,
Too rude, too boisterous, and it pricks like thorn.” — Romeo and Juliet; Act 1, Scene 4

A simile is a figure of speech that compares two unlike things using the words “like” or “as.” It’s a way to create vivid imagery and make descriptions more engaging by drawing a comparison between something familiar and something less so.

What it is

• Comparison using “like” or “as”
  • This is the key characteristic that distinguishes similes from metaphors.  
  • The words “like” or “as” explicitly indicate that a comparison is being made.  
• Comparison of unlike things
  • Similes connect two things that are fundamentally different to highlight a shared quality.  
  • This creates a fresh and insightful way of looking at something.
• Creating imagery
  • Similes help to paint a picture in the reader’s mind, making your writing more descriptive and evocative.  

How to use it

• To add emphasis
  • Similes can highlight a particular quality or characteristic.  
• To clarify complex ideas
  • By comparing something unfamiliar to something familiar, you can make it easier to understand.  
• To create vivid descriptions
  • Similes can bring your writing to life by making it more sensory and imaginative.  
• Examples
  • “Her eyes were like sparkling diamonds.”
  • “He ran as fast as a cheetah.”
  • “The clouds were like fluffy cotton balls.”
  • “The music was as soothing as a gentle breeze.”

Key considerations

• Avoid clichés
  • Try to avoid overused similes that have lost their impact.
• Choose effective comparisons
  • The best similes are those that are both original and relevant.  
• Consider your audience
  • Make sure your similes are appropriate for your audience’s understanding and background.

*Explanation of the Shakespeare quote

This line uses “like” to compare love’s effect to the sensation of a thorn pricking. Romeo is questioning the gentle nature of love, describing it as harsh and wild, and then explicitly likens its pain to something sharp and physical—a thorn. The word “like” makes it a direct comparison between two unlike things (love, an emotion, and a thorn, a tangible object).

More literary devices to learn about:

• Alliteration
• Allusion
• Hyperbole
• Idioms
• Metaphor
• Onomatopoeia
• Personification
• Simile

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