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Figurative language finder
Paste a poem, a story or an essay. We highlight the similes, alliteration, sound words, exaggerations, idioms and repeated openings in it, and list all 12 types of figurative language with examples.
- Simile
- Compares two things using "like" or "as".
- “Her smile was as bright as the sun.”
- Metaphor
- Says one thing is another, without "like" or "as".
- “Time is a thief.”
- Personification
- Gives human qualities to something that is not human.
- “The wind whispered through the trees.”
- Hyperbole
- Exaggerates for effect; not meant literally.
- “I've told you a million times.”
- Alliteration
- Repeats the first consonant sound in nearby words.
- “Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.”
- Onomatopoeia
- A word that sounds like what it describes.
- “The bacon sizzled in the pan.”
- Idiom
- A phrase whose meaning is not the sum of its words.
- “It's raining cats and dogs.”
- Oxymoron
- Puts two opposite words side by side.
- “Deafening silence.”
- Understatement
- Makes something seem smaller than it is, often for irony.
- “It's a bit chilly (in a blizzard).”
- Irony
- The opposite of what is said or expected is true.
- “A fire station burns down.”
- Symbolism
- An object stands for a bigger idea.
- “A dove for peace.”
- Imagery
- Language that appeals to the five senses.
- “The crisp, cold air stung my cheeks.”
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Questions people ask
What is figurative language?
Language that means more than its literal words, used to create an image or an effect. "Time is a thief" doesn't mean time steals things; it means time takes things from us without asking.
What are the different types of figurative language?
The 12 most taught are simile, metaphor, personification, hyperbole, alliteration, onomatopoeia, idiom, oxymoron, understatement, irony, symbolism and imagery. The guide on this page defines each with an example.
What is the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile compares using "like" or "as" ("brave as a lion"); a metaphor says one thing is another ("he is a lion in battle").
What is the opposite of figurative language?
Literal language: words that mean exactly what they say.
Can this find metaphors and personification?
Not reliably. Those depend on meaning, not on a pattern of words, so the finder does not guess. It finds the figures that can be spotted by their form and leaves metaphor, personification and irony to you, with the guide to help.
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