Which term refers to comparing two unlike things using like or as?

• A. Alliteration
• B. Metaphor
• C. Hyperbole
• D. Simile

Answer: (D)

A simile is a comparison between two unlike things that uses like or as. The hallmark is the explicit signal word like or as, which invites you to see one thing in terms of another—e.g., “her smile was as bright as the sun” or “he rushed like the wind.” This makes the image vivid by linking the unfamiliar idea to something familiar through the comparison.

Alliteration, by contrast, is about repeating the same initial consonant sound in nearby words, not about comparing ideas. A metaphor also makes a comparison, but it does so without using like or as, usually stating one thing is another, such as “time is a thief.” Hyperbole relies on deliberate exaggeration for emphasis, not on drawing a direct comparison.