Need another word for Metaphor? Use these synonyms of Metaphor from our thesaurus to say it differently.
Synonyms & Similar Words
analogy
comparison
figure of speech
simile
allegory
symbol
parable
fable
myth
story
tale
legend
allusion
reference
representation
illustration
example
likeness
resemblance
parallel
equivalence
correspondence
similarity
congruence
equivalence
parallelism
symbolism
figurative language
poetic device
rhetorical device
literary device
poeticism
trope
turn of phrase
idiom
expression
saying
phrase
colloquialism
informalism
Meaning of Metaphor
A metaphor is a figure of speech that describes an object or action in a way that isn't literally true but helps explain an idea or make a comparison.
Definitions
- A figure of speech in which a word or phrase is applied to an object or action to which it is not literally applicable, in order to create a vivid representation or to make a comparison
- A thing regarded as representative or symbolic of something else, especially an abstract idea
Etymology of Metaphor
The word 'metaphor' comes from the Greek word 'metaphora', which means 'transfer' or 'carrying over', derived from 'meta' (beyond) and 'phora' (carrying)
The term has been used in English since the 15th century to describe a figure of speech that involves a transfer of meaning from one thing to another
Example Uses
- The city is a jungle, where only the strongest survive
- He is a shining light in a world filled with darkness
- Life is a rollercoaster, full of ups and downs
- The world is a stage, and we are all just players
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
literalness
factuality
reality
accuracy
precision
exactness
authenticity
truthfulness
straightforwardness
directness
simplicity
clarity
clearness
transparency
obviousness
explicitness
concreteness
tangibility
literalism
realism
actuality
factuality
veracity