25 Figures of Speech Simplified with Examples – PaperTrue

• Sep 12, 2024
• 7 min read

• Tags: Book Writing, Fiction Writing, Novel Writing

Want to make your writing more exciting? Figures of speech are the answer! They transform ordinary sentences into memorable expressions.  

This article dives into 25 commonly used figures of speech, offering clear explanations and practical examples. So, if you love playing with words, this article is for you! 

Let’s first quickly understand the figure of speech meaning. 

What is a figure of speech? 

Figures of speech are useful language techniques that convey ideas beyond the actual meaning of words. They make words more fun to read. Whether it is music, books, speaking, or poems, figures of speech are used everywhere! 

Now let’s explore the types of figures of speech in detail! 

1. Metaphor 

A metaphor compares different ideas without using the words “like” and “as”. It shows a shared quality or feature between compared ideas. For example: 

The classroom was a zoo. 

In this example, a classroom full of noisy kids is compared to a zoo full of noisy wild animals. 

2. Simile 

A simile compares ideas using the words “like” and “as”. They help readers understand the thing described by relating it to something they already know. For example: 

The runner was as fast as lightning, racing towards the finish line. 

In this sentence, the runner’s speed is compared to lightning. 

3. Alliteration 

Alliteration is a writing technique where words starting with the same sound are used in the same phrase or sentence together. It’s like a tongue twister that repeats the same letter or sound at the beginning of multiple words. For example: 

The big blue balloon bounced off the boy.

In the above sentence, the “b” sound is repeated at the beginning of multiple words. 

4. Personification

Personification is a figure of speech where human qualities, actions, or emotions are given to non-human things. It is different from anthropomorphism where non-human things are not only given human traits but also act like humans. Here are some examples of personification: 

The sun smiled down on the children playing in the park.

In the above example, the sun is given the human quality of smiling. 

5. Antithesis 

Antithesis is a figure of speech where two opposite ideas are placed together in a sentence to create a contrast. Think of it like a seesaw, with one idea on one side and the opposite idea on the other side. For example: 

It can be used to highlight a point, create a dramatic effect, or make a statement more memorable. For example: 

My brother is tall, but I am short.

In this example, two opposite ideas of tall and short are placed in the same sentence to create a contrast. 

6. Hyperbole 

Hyperbole is a figure of speech that uses exaggeration to make a point. When you use hyperbole, you describe something as being much bigger, better, worse, or more intense than it really is. For example: 

I’m so hungry, I could eat a horse! 

Here, the level of hunger is exaggerated to emphasize it and make a point. 

7. Onomatopoeia 

Onomatopoeia is a figure of speech where sounds are described to create an effect. They help to make the description more engaging. For example: 

The soda fizzed and hissed as it was poured into the glass. 

In this sentence, the words “fizzed” and “hissed” describe the sound soda creates. 

8. Anaphora 

Anaphora is a writing technique where the same word or phrase is repeated at the beginning of multiple sentences. This helps to create an effect. For example: 

He ran through the forest. He ran over the hills. He ran until he couldn’t run anymore.

In the above sentence, the phrase “He ran” is repeated to create an effect. 

9. Allusion 

An allusion is a brief, indirect reference to a famous person, place, event, literary work, or work of art. Allusions can add depth and meaning to a piece of writing. Let’s browse through an example to understand better! 

He was as brave as Superman when he stood up to the bully.

Here, Superman is an allusion to the comic book superhero Superman. 

10. Paradox 

A paradox is a statement that seems contradictory or absurd but may be true in reality. It’s a situation or idea that appears illogical or self-contradictory. Here is an example: 

Less is more.

This paradox suggests that having less of something can actually be better or more effective than having more.  

11. Irony 

Irony is a figure of speech where the words one expresses do not mean what their literal meaning indicates but mean the opposite. Often, irony refers to a situation or fact that is opposite to what you would expect, often in a funny or strange way. It’s like a twist or surprise that goes against what seems logical or normal. For example: 

A dentist has bad teeth.

You would expect a dentist to have good teeth, so it’s ironic when a dentist has bad teeth. 

12. Euphemism 

A euphemism is a mild, indirect way of saying something that might be considered harsh, blunt, or offensive. It’s like using a softer or more pleasant word or phrase to talk about something unpleasant, embarrassing, or taboo. Here is an example of this: 

He passed away on 9th November 2002. 

Here, the word “passed away” is a gentler phrase for death, which can be a sensitive topic for many. 

13. Synecdoche 

Synecdoche is a figure of speech where a part of something is used to represent the whole, or the whole is used to represent a part. It helps to focus on a specific aspect of what is being described. For example: 

The stage was filled with talented faces. 

In the above sentence, the word “faces” (part) represents people (whole). Let’s see another example! 

“England won the World Cup in 1966.”

In this sentence, England (whole) represents the English national football team (part) and not the whole country. 

14. Litotes 

Litotes is a figure of speech where something bad/negative is said to highlight the positive/good. It is usually used in creative writing and in informal speech. For example: 

The party was not bad.

This means the party was actually quite good or enjoyable, but the speaker is understating it. 

15. Oxymoron 

An oxymoron is a figure of speech where two contradictory or opposing words are used to create a new meaning. When put together, two contradictory ideas express a unique or paradoxical meaning. For example: 

There was a deafening silence in the hall. 

Silence is the absence of sound, so it cannot be deafening. Deafening indicates an extremely loud noise. Hence, this is an oxymoron highlighting pin-drop silence. 

16. Apostrophe 

An apostrophe is a literary device in which a person speaks about someone or something that is not there. It could be a person, an object, an abstract idea, or even a deceased individual. This writing technique is often used in poetry and dramatic works to express strong emotions, show closeness, or personify non-living objects.

Here is an example: 

“Oh, moon, why must you shine so brightly on this sad day?”

(In this example, the speaker is directly addressing the moon, even though the moon cannot respond.)

17. Transferred Epithet 

A transferred epithet is a descriptive word or phrase that is used to describe a noun. However, it’s not a word or phrase that would be usually used to describe that specific noun. For example: 

He walked on the lonely streets. 

The phrase “lonely streets” is a transferred epithet as streets can’t be lonely. “Lonely” is a word used to describe people. 

18. Metonymy 

Metonymy is a figure of speech where a word or phrase is used to highlight or focus on something related to it. In other words, it’s when you replace the name of something with a word closely associated with it. For example: 

I love reading Sidney Sheldon. 

In this example, “Sidney Sheldon” is used to represent the books written by him, not the person himself. 

19. Climax 

A climax is a figure of speech where ideas are arranged in the increasing order of their importance (ascending order). This creates a strong impression on the reader. Let’s see an example of this! 

The cricketer trained for months, overcame injuries, and finally performed well in the T20 Cricket World Cup. 

In this example, the ideas of training, overcoming injuries, and performing well are in ascending order. They reflect the cricketer’s journey. 

20. Tautology 

Tautology is a figure of speech in which an idea is repeated using different words that essentially mean the same thing. It’s an unnecessary repetition of a word or a phrase using synonyms and similar words. For example: 

She saw it with her own eyes. 

This sentence is an example of tautology as the word “own” is unnecessary since a person sees with their eyes. 

21. Circumlocution 

Circumlocution is a figure of speech in which a person uses more words than necessary to express an idea. The speaker or writer often uses a longer, more complex phrase or description to convey the same meaning. For example: 

“This particular area appears to be suffering from a notable lack of tidiness and organization.”

In the above example, the writer uses a verbose description instead of saying “The area is messy”. 

22. Understatement 

Understatement is a figure of speech in which a person expresses an idea and makes it seem less important or serious. This is often done by using words or phrases that are mild, neutral, or positive. For example: 

“It’s just a scratch”. (to describe a serious injury.) 

23. Chiasmus 

Chiasmus is a way of writing or speaking where you switch the order of words or phrases. It is often used to create a sense of balance or contrast and can make the sentence more memorable. For example: 

“Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country.” – John F. Kennedy

In the above sentence the order of the words “what your country can do for you” is changed. 

24. Epigram 

An epigram is a short, clever, and memorable statement that often expresses a general truth or observation. Epigrams are typically concise and thought-provoking. For example: 

“Little strokes fell great oaks.” – Benjamin Franklin

This epigram suggests that small, consistent efforts can overcome even the greatest challenges.

The final technique in our figures of speech list is polysyndeton. Let’s explore this technique in detail! 

25. Polysyndeton 

Polysyndeton is a figure of speech in which a writer uses multiple coordinating conjunctions (such as “and,” “or,” “but,” or “nor”), even when they are not grammatically necessary. This creates a rhythmic effect. For example: 

I searched high and low, near and far, over and under, but I still couldn’t find my keys.

In the above sentence the repetition of conjunctions like “and” creates a rhythmic effect. 

Now let’s see some figures of speech examples from well-known books! 

Nine amazing examples of figures of speech  

1. Simile 

• • • “Loving someone is like moving into a house,” Sonja used to say. – A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman
    • Words are like tiny bombs, Liesel. – The Book Thief by Markus Zusak
    • “Her hair was like spun gold.” – Rapunzel by The Brothers Grimm

2. Metaphor 

• • • • “The wind howled through the trees.” – The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame 
      • “The flowers danced in the breeze.” – Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll 
      • “The waves crashed against the shore, as if angry at the land.” – The Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway

3. Paradox

• • • • “Some rules are made to be broken.” – The Outsiders by S.E. Hinton 
      • “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” – Animal Farm by George Orwell 
      • “You need to spend money to make money.” – Rich Dad Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki 

While these examples show how figures of speech can be used in creative writing, this is not all. Let’s understand how to use figures of speech to improve daily conversations! 

How to use figures of speech to enhance everyday conversations?

The following figures of speech can be used to make daily conversations engaging: 

• • • • • Hyperbole: This figure of speech can be used to make conversations fun or convey distress. 

For example, instead of saying: “I have a lot of work to do”, you could say: “I’m drowning in a sea of paperwork!” (conveying distress) 

Another example is the sentence: “My internet is so slow, I could drive faster than it takes to load a webpage!”

• • • Irony: This involves saying the opposite of what you mean to be witty. If it’s pouring rain and someone says, “Lovely weather we’re having,” the irony adds a touch of humor to the situation.
    • Rhetorical question: Asking a question you don’t expect an answer to can make people think. Instead of “This is important,” you could ask “Isn’t this something we should all care about?” You can use this literary device to discuss any sensitive, important issue that needs attention. 
    • Allusion: Making a quick reference to a shared culture (a book, movie, song, etc.) can create a sense of connection and understanding. You can use this when you meet friends, family, and acquaintances with whom you share similarities. For example, 

“This situation feels like something out of a Shakespearean tragedy.”  

This allusion to Shakespeare can be used if you and the reader/writer are aware of Shakespearean tragedies. 

To conclude, figures of speech are useful speaking and writing techniques for communication. By using figures of speech while writing, you can make your text more engaging. Save this guide for quick access to the figures of speech definition and examples! 

Once you complete writing, editing the text is crucial. As a trusted provider of editing and proofreading services, PaperTrue can easily help you polish your text. 

What did you think about this article on the different types of figures of speech? Share your thoughts in the comments section! 

Here are some useful resources for you: 

• • • 10 Best Free Online Grammar Checkers: Features and Ratings
    • 10 Most Common Grammar Mistakes & How to Avoid Them
    • Structure of an Essay: 5 Tips to Write an Outstanding Essay
    • Top 10 Assignment Editing Services of 2024
    • How to Write a Short Story: 6 Steps & Examples

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Priya

Priya has a talent for academic research and enjoys simplifying complex topics. When she's not helping students improve their writing, she can be seen reading poetry, playing the harmonium, or learning classical dance.