What is a figure of speech?

Language that uses figures of speech is known collectively as figurative language. You will find examples
of figurative language in novels, poems, essays, and plays. The opposite of figurative language is literal
language. Literal language is the type of straightforward writing you’ll find on road signs, in office
memos, and in research papers.

20 types of figures of speech

1. Alliteration

Alliteration is the repeating of consonant sounds right next to each other, which creates a
memorable or melodic effect.

Example: She sells seashells by the seashore.

2. Antithesis

Antithesis is a literary technique that places opposite things or ideas next to one another in
order to draw out their contrast.

Example: “It was the best of times, it was the worst of times . . .” —Charles Dickens, A Tale of Two Cities

3. Apostrophe

Apostrophe as a figure of speech is when a character addresses someone or something that isn’t
present or cannot respond. The character might speak to someone deceased, an inanimate object, or a
concept.

Example: “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” —William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

4. Circumlocution

Circumlocution is the use of a purposely wordy description. You can think of it as talking in
circles.

Example: In the Harry Potter series, most characters don’t say Lord Voldemort’s name; instead, they use
this circumlocution: “He Who Must Not Be Named.”

5. Epigram

An epigram is a clever and memorable statement. You will find epigrams in speeches, poetry,
and at the front of a book.
Example: “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” —Eleanor Roosevelt

6. Euphemism

A euphemism is a way to say something in an understated manner, often to avoid difficult

Example: Death can be an uncomfortable subject, so we’ve developed many euphemisms to avoid
confronting it head-on. Rather than telling a friend that a relative died, you might say they “kicked the
bucket,” “passed away,” or are “no longer with us.”

7. Hyperbole

Hyperbole is a deliberate exaggeration that adds emphasis, urgency, or excitement to a

Example: If I don’t eat soon, I’m going to die of hunger.

8. Irony

Irony is a situation that subverts a reader’s expectations.

Example: One of the characters in your story is a hypochondriac, always convinced that they have an
exotic and uncurable disease. An ironic ending for that character would be if they died of a common
cold.

9. Litotes

Litotes use a double negative to create a positive.

Example: You’re not wrong.

10. Metaphor

A metaphor is the direct comparison of dissimilar things to create more vivid imagery or
understanding.

Example: He was an onion; to understand him, she had to peel back the layers.

11. Metonymy

Metonymy is a literary device in which a word or object stands in for a closely related word or
object. Metonymy gives a writer more variability with descriptions.
Example: I thought his movies were better when they weren’t so Hollywood.

12. Onomatopoeia

Onomatopoeia is a word that sounds like what it means.

Example: When a character is exasperated, they might exclaim, “Sheesh!” That’s both a word to show
exasperation and a sound that happens when you sigh loudly.

13. Oxymoron

An oxymoron is a phrase that uses two contradictory words to create a new meaning.

Example: That strawberry cake was awfully good.

14. Paradox

A paradox is a statement that appears to contradict itself but contains some truth, theme, or
humor.

Example: “All animals are equal, but some animals are more equal than others.” —George Orwell,
Animal Farm

15. Personification

Personification is assigning human attributes to nonhuman things.

Example: The floorboards groaned under the weight of each step.

16. Pleonasm

Pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning. A writer might use
pleonasm for humor or emphasis, or they might not realize they’re using extra words at all.

Example: The burning fire warmed the whole house.

17. Pun

A pun is a form of wordplay that purposely substitutes words that sound similar but have
different meanings.
Example: “‘Mine is a long and a sad tale!’ said the Mouse, turning to Alice and sighing. ‘It is a long tail,
certainly,’ said Alice, looking down with wonder at the Mouse’s tail; ‘but why do you call it sad?’” —
Lewis Carroll, Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland

18. Simile

A simile compares two dissimilar things using “like” or “as.” The goal of simile is to give the
reader a more vivid understanding of something.

Example: It was the first real day of summer, and by the time she came back indoors, she was as red as a
tomato.

19. Synecdoche

Synecdoche is when a smaller unit is used to signify a larger unit or vice versa.

Example: New England won the game by a touchdown. (Here, New England means New England’s
football team.)

20. Understatement

Understatement is the intentional downplaying of a situation. This can create a humorous or

Example: “I have to have this operation. It isn’t very serious. I have this tiny little tumor on the brain.” —
J.D. Salinger, The Catcher in the Rye