We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Linguistics

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What Is the Difference between Simile and Hyperbole?

By Alan Rankin
Updated: May 23, 2024
Views: 29,678
Share

Simile and hyperbole are the terms for two different figures of speech. Simile is the use of words such as “like” to compare an object, concept, or person to something else. Hyperbole is the deliberate use of exaggeration to describe something, as in the sentence, “This suitcase weighs a ton.” Simile and hyperbole can often be confused, because hyperbole sometimes fancifully compares its subject to something else. The key difference is that hyperbole often makes claims that no reasonable person would take literally.

Simile is a kind of metaphor, a common literary device also used often in everyday speech. A metaphor compares something to something else for descriptive or poetic effect. A simile uses words such as “like” or “as” to achieve this, as in the phrase, “She sank like a stone.” There is little exaggeration in this phrase, as it is quite possible for a person to sink like a stone in the right conditions. Other phrases, however, can lead to confusion between simile and metaphor.

The phrase “catlike reflexes,” for example, compares a person’s reflexes to the famously quick response time of felines. This phrase spans the difference between simile and hyperbole; it could be simile, but is more likely hyperbole. Although it is possible for a person to achieve such a high reaction time with training, the average person will not have this kind of training. Describing someone as having “catlike reflexes,” therefore, is most often hyperbole, unless the person in question is a soldier, athlete, or acrobat. In such cases, it could truly be a simile.

In most cases, it is easier to determine the difference between simile and hyperbole. The phrase, “This suitcase weighs a ton,” is clearly hyperbole; no one expects the bag to actually weigh 2,000 pounds. Hyperbole exaggerates the features being described, usually for colorful or persuasive effect. A person may say, “If I ate all that ice cream, I’d be as big as a whale.” Although using the word “as” the way a simile does, the comparison to a gigantic sea mammal reveals the sentence is clearly hyperbole.

The difference between simile and hyperbole, then, comes down to the intended use of the comparison. If the phrase is used to describe something more thoroughly, it is probably a simile, even if it compares two unlike things, as in Robert Burns’ famous line, “My love is like a red red rose.” Burns is discussing his love’s beauty and perfection; he does not expect anyone to mistake her for a flower. If the phrase calls attention to itself for comic or colorful effect, it is probably hyperbole. The sentence, “I need more debt like a hole in the head,” is not intended to describe the debt, just to express its undesirability in a highly exaggerated way.

Share
Language & Humanities is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.
Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.languagehumanities.org/what-is-the-difference-between-simile-and-hyperbole.htm
Copy this link
Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

Language & Humanities, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.