Figure of Speech

By Priyabrata Mishra -

Figures of Speech: A Complete Guide

A figure of speech makes language more interesting, creative, and expressive. Instead of saying something in a plain way, it adds comparison, exaggeration, or sound effects to make words more powerful! Here is a complete list of figures of speech with easy examples:

1. Simile – Comparison using "like" or "as"
Example: Her smile is as bright as the sun.

2. Metaphor – Direct comparison without "like" or "as"
Example: The classroom was a zoo.

3. Personification – Giving human qualities to non-living things
Example: The flowers danced in the wind.

4. Hyperbole – Extreme exaggeration
Example: I have a ton of homework!

5. Alliteration – Repetition of the same consonant sound
Example: Big brown bears bounce beautifully.

6. Assonance – Repetition of vowel sounds
Example: The cat sat on a mat.

7. Onomatopoeia – Words that sound like their meaning
Example: The bees buzzed in the garden.

8. Irony – Opposite of what is expected
Example: A pilot who is afraid of flying!

9. Pun – A funny play on words
Example: I’m reading a book on glue—I just can’t put it down!

10. Oxymoron – Two opposite words together
Example: The cake was awfully good!

11. Paradox – A statement that seems false but is true
Example: Less is more.

12. Apostrophe – Talking to something that isn’t there
Example: Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are!

13. Synecdoche – A part represents the whole
Example: India won the match! (India = Indian cricket team)

14. Metonymy – Using a related word instead of the actual word
Example: The crown will decide the future of the kingdom. (Crown = King/Queen)

15. Anaphora – Repeating words at the start of sentences
Example: We will fight. We will win. We will never give up.

16. Euphemism – A polite way to say something unpleasant
Example: She is between jobs now. (Instead of She is unemployed.)

17. Climax & Anti-Climax

  • Climax (increasing importance): He came, he saw, he conquered!

  • Anti-Climax (sudden drop in importance): He fought bravely, won the battle, and went home to feed his cat.

18. Tautology – Repeating the same idea in different words.
Example: "It was a free gift." (All gifts are free.)

19. Pleonasm – Using unnecessary words for emphasis.
Example: "I saw it with my own eyes." (Obviously, you see with your eyes.)

20. Chiasmus – Reversing the order of words for effect.
Example: "Never let a fool kiss you or a kiss fool you."

21. Antithesis – Contrasting two opposite ideas.
Example: "Speech is silver, but silence is golden."

22. Epigram – A short, witty statement.
Example: "I can resist everything except temptation."

23. Zeugma – Using one word to link two different ideas.
Example: "She broke his heart and his car."

24. Litotes – Using double negatives to make an understatement.
Example: "He is not bad at singing." (Instead of He is a good singer.)

25. Anadiplosis – Repeating the last word of a sentence at the start of the next.
Example: "Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering."

26. Polyptoton – Repeating the same root word in different forms.
Example: "Love is an irresistible desire to be irresistibly desired."

27. Malapropism – Using the wrong word in place of a similar-sounding one.
Example: "Texas has a lot of electrical votes." (Instead of electoral votes.)

28. Spoonerism – Mixing up sounds in words for a humorous effect.
Example: "You have hissed the mystery lectures." (Instead of missed the history lectures.)

These figures of speech make language fun, expressive, and meaningful!

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