35 COMMONLY USED FIGURES OF SPEECH

Figure of Speech Example

She has an attractive face, gorgeous smile, lovely hair, charming
Accumulation - The arguments previously stated are
eyes, exquisite nose, flawless skin, a gracefulness in her movements;
presented again in a forceful manner.
in short, she is divinely beautiful.
Adjunction - a word, phrase or clause is placed at the
Too lazy to find examples, I am. But get the picture, do you?
beginning or end of a sentence.
Adnomination - Repetition of words with a change in letter or
She is somebody from somewhere, and she knows something.
sound
Alliteration - Repetition of initial sounds in neighboring
Fresh fern fronds from the forest
words.
Rose is a real Einstein. (Rose is your smart friend like Albert
Allusion -Reference to a person, place or event
Einstein).
Anaphora - Repeating a sequence of words at the beginnings You are lovely, you are gorgeous, you are pretty, you are glorious,
of neighboring clauses to give them emphasis. you are, you are, you just are!
Antanaclasis - Rhetorical device in which a word is repeated “We must all hang together, or assuredly we shall hang separately”
and whose meaning changes in the second instance -Benjamin Franklin
Anticlimax -Statements gradually descend in order of
In the car crash, she lost her life, her car, and her cellphone.
importance.
Antiphrasis - A word or phrase is used to mean the opposite
She is 65 years young.
of its normal meaning to create ironic humorous effect.
Antithesis - Contrast or opposition between two things Too many choices, too little time.
Apostrophe - Exclamatory rhetorical figure of speech in which
a speaker directs speech to an imaginary person or abstact Oh, moon! You have seen everything!
quality or idea.
Assonance - refers to the repetition of vowel sounds to create
A certain purple curtain, captain.
internal rhyming within phrases or sentences
Cataphora - an earlier expression refers or describes a
If you go there now, the party will start
forward expression.
Chiasmus - words, grammatical construction or concepts are
People must live to work, not work to live
repeated in reverse order, in the same or a modified form
Climax - words, phrases or clauses are arranged in order of Three things will remain: faith, hope, and love. But the greatest of
increasing importance these is love.
Dysphemism - use of harsh, more offensive word. Television = idiot box
Ellipsis - omission of word/words Rizal spoke seven languages. Bonifacio only two.
Euphemism – used to express a mild, indirect or vague term to “Passed away” instead of “died”
substitute for a harsh, blunt, or offensive term. “in between jobs” instead of unemployed
Epigram – lines that create witty thoughts “I can resist everything but temptation”
Epiphora/ Epistrophe – repeating sequence of words at the
“A government of the people, by the people, for the people”
end of the neighboring clauses to give emphasis
Hyperbole – uses exaggerations to create emphasis or effect I told you a million time to clean the room!
Hypophora – the speaker raises a question then answers it. Is it a bird? No! Is it a plane? No, it’s Superman!
Irony – contradiction between what is said and what is really
The explanation is as clear as a mud.
meant
Litotes – the affirmative is expresses by negating its opposite Instead of saying someone is “ugly,” you say “not very pretty”
Merism – something is referred to by a conventional phrase Saying “young and old” to refer to the whole population
that enumerates several of its constituents or traits. Saying “flesh and bone” to mean the whole body
You’ve got to catch the worm tomorrow (“The early bird catches the
Metalepsis – the reference is made to something by means of
worm” = Tomorrow you will wake up early in the morning to
another thing that is remotely related to it.
achieve success)
Metaphor – makes a hidden comparison The planet is your playgrou2nd
Metonymy – a thing or concept is not called by its own name,
Using “malacañ ang” to refer to the president or the govt
but by the name of something associated with that thing or
administration
concept
Oxymoron – combines contradictory terms Open secret, virtual reality
Personification – human characteristics are attributed to an
The wind whispered through the trees
abstract quality, animal or inanimate object
Pun / Paranomasia – wordplay that suggest two or more The math book looked sad because it had too many problems.
meanings by exploiting multiple meanings of words, or of "Problems" here refers to both mathematical exercises and
similar-sounding words, for an intended humorous effect difficulties or issues.
Simile – directly comparing two unlike things Her smile is as big as the sun.
Synecdoche – part of something is used to represent the
Sixty hands voted.
whole
Tautology – A statement that says the same thing twice in
Free gift, advance planning
different ways
Understatement – used by speakers or writers to deliberately
make a situation seem less important or serious than it really A nurse about to give an injection saying, “it will sting a bit”
is.
 FIGURES OF SPEECH
Alliteration: is the repetition of the same initial consonant sound in a series of words within a phrase or sentence. It is often
used to create rhythm, sound patterns, and emphasis in writing.
 Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
 She sells seashells by the seashore.
Adnomination: is a rhetorical device where words with the same root or similar sounds are repeated within a phrase or
sentence. It is often used for emphasis or to draw attention to a particular idea or concept.
 "By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail."
 "He plays games with the aim of gaining fame."
Assonance: is the repetition of vowel sounds within words that are close to each other in a sentence or phrase. It is used to create musical or
rhythmic effects and can add emphasis.
 "The rain in Spain falls mainly on the plain."
 "A fleet of steel-gray geese."
Anaphora: is the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses, sentences, or lines of poetry. It is used for emphasis, rhythm,
and to create a sense of cohesion in writing.
 "We shall not flag or fail. We shall go on to the end. We shall fight in France..."
 "It was the best of times, it was the worst of times..."
Epiphora/Epistrophe: Epiphora, also known as epistrophe, is the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses, sentences, or lines
of poetry. Like anaphora, it is used for emphasis, rhythm, and to create a sense of cohesion.
 "When I was a child, I spoke like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child."
 "Where now? Who now? When now?"
 "I swear to tell the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth."

Accumulation: a figure of speech in which a speaker or writer lists a series of related items, often for rhetorical effect or to emphasize a point. It
creates a sense of accumulation or building up of details.
 "She had a long list of accomplishments: a PhD in physics, multiple patents, published research papers, and a successful career
in academia."
 "The storm brought heavy rain, strong winds, thunder, lightning, and flooding."
Anti-climax: is a figure of speech in which the expected outcome is much less important or impressive than what was originally anticipated. It is the
opposite of climax.
 "He got the job, but it only paid minimum wage."
 "They finally got married, but they divorced a year later."
Climax: is a figure of speech in which the most important or dramatic event occurs at the end of a sentence, paragraph, or story. It is the opposite of
anti-climax.
 "The lovers finally got together, and they lived happily ever after."
 "The detective solved the case, and the murderer was brought to justice."
Chiasmus: a figure of speech in which words or concepts are repeated in reverse order to create a balanced and contrasting effect. It is often used to
emphasize a point, create symmetry, or make a statement more memorable.
 "Ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country." - John F. Kennedy
 "You forget what you want to remember, and you remember what you want to forget." - Cormac McCarthy, "The Road"

Antanaclasis: is a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is repeated, but with a different meaning each time it is used. It often creates a play on
words or a humorous effect.
 "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." (In the first instance, "flies" refers to the action of moving quickly, while in
the second instance, "flies" refers to the insects.)
 "You have to be awake to make your dreams come true and not dream your life away." (In the first instance, "dreams" refers to
aspirations, while in the second instance, "dream" suggests a wasted existence.)
Pun/Paranomasia: a figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used in a way that plays on its multiple meanings or sounds. Puns are often used
for humor, wordplay, or to create a clever twist.
 "I used to be a baker, but I couldn't make enough dough." (Pun on "dough," meaning money, and "dough," the raw material used
in baking.)
 "I'm reading a book on anti-gravity. It's impossible to put down." (Pun on "put down," which can mean both physically placing
something and expressing enjoyment.)
 "Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana." (Pun on the word "flies," which has different meanings in each part of the
sentence.)
Metalepsis: a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is used in a different, but related, context, often leading to layers of meaning or a
blending of different levels of reality. It involves a series of substitutions, creating a complex rhetorical effect.
 "I drank the entire library last night." (In this metalepsis, "drank" is used to suggest reading and consuming knowledge.)
 "Time flies when you're having fun." (Time is metaphorically suggested to have wings, and "flies" refers to its passing.)
Antiphrasis: figure of speech in which a word or phrase is used in a way that is opposite to its literal or usual meaning, often for ironic or sarcastic
effect.
 Calling a large and imposing person "Tiny."
 Referring to a clumsy person as "Grace."
Antithesis: a figure of speech that involves the juxtaposition of contrasting ideas, words, or phrases within a sentence or in close proximity. It is used
to create a balance of contrasting elements and to emphasize the differences between them.
 "It was the best of times; it was the worst of times." (Charles Dickens)
Irony: the literal meaning of the words is the opposite of their intended meaning.
 "I'm so good at math!" said the person who just failed their math test.
 "I'm never going to get sick again!" said the person who was just diagnosed with a terminal illness.
Oxymoron: a figure of speech in which contradictory or opposing words or ideas are combined to create a paradoxical effect. It often highlights the
complexity or irony of a situation.
 "Deafening silence."
 "Jumbo shrimp."
 "Bittersweet."
Tautology: the same idea is repeated using different words or phrases, resulting in redundancy. It is often used unintentionally and is considered a
stylistic flaw.
 "Free gift" (since a gift is inherently free).
 "ATM machine" (ATM stands for "Automated Teller Machine").
Apostrophe: a figure of speech in which a speaker directly addresses an absent person, an abstract concept, an inanimate object, or something non-
human as if it were a person. It is often used to express strong emotions, create a dramatic effect, or evoke empathy.
 "O, Romeo, Romeo! Wherefore art thou, Romeo?" (Juliet addressing Romeo in Shakespeare's "Romeo and Juliet," Act 2, Scene 2)
 "Death, be not proud, though some have called thee / Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so." (John Donne in his poem "Death
Be Not Proud")
 "O, Death, be not proud, for I have conquered you!" (A speaker addressing Death as if it were a person)
Personification: a figure of speech in which non-human objects, animals, or abstract concepts are given human-like qualities, characteristics, or
actions. It is used to make descriptions more vivid, relatable, or emotionally resonant.
 "The sun smiled down on the beach."
 "Time waits for no one."
 "The stars danced in the night sky."

Merism: a figure of speech in which a whole is represented by enumerating its various parts. It's often used to emphasize the completeness or
entirety of something.
 "They searched high and low for the missing keys." (High and low represent all possible locations.)
 "He knows the topic from A to Z." (A to Z covers the entire subject matter.)
Synecdoche: a figure of speech in which a part of something is used to represent the whole or the whole is used to represent a part. It involves
substituting a specific part for the whole, or the whole for a specific part.
 "All hands on deck." (Hands represent the entire crew.)
 "The White House issued a statement." (The White House represents the U.S. government.)
 "The wheels are turning." (Wheels represent the entire vehicle.)
Metonymy: a figure of speech in which one word or phrase is substituted with another that is closely associated with it or commonly used in the
same context. It relies on the concept of association or contiguity between the two terms.
 "The pen is mightier than the sword." (Pen refers to writing and words, while sword represents military force.)
 "The press was in attendance." (Press refers to journalists and reporters.)

Metaphor: a figure of speech that directly compares two different things by stating that one thing is another. It suggests a similarity between the two,
often to convey a deeper meaning or create a vivid image.
 "Her smile was a ray of sunshine." (In this metaphor, the smile is directly compared to a ray of sunshine, suggesting its warmth
and brightness.)
 "Time is a thief." (Time is metaphorically compared to a thief, implying that it steals moments or opportunities.)
 "The world is a stage." (The world is metaphorically likened to a stage, suggesting that life is like a theatrical performance.)
Simile: a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as." It is used to make a description more vivid or to
emphasize a similarity between the two things being compared.
 "She was as busy as a bee." (The simile uses "as" to compare her busyness to the industriousness of a bee.)
 "His eyes sparkled like stars in the night sky." (The simile uses "like" to compare the sparkle in his eyes to the brightness of
stars.)
 "Life is like a box of chocolates; you never know what you're gonna get." (The simile uses "like" to compare life to the
unpredictability of a box of chocolates.)

Allusion: a figure of speech that involves referring to a well-known person, event, place, or literary work to convey a complex idea, evoke an
emotional response, or add depth to the text. Allusions rely on the audience's familiarity with the reference.
 "He had the strength of Hercules."
 "She had a Mona Lisa smile."
Dysphemism: a figure of speech that involves using harsh, unpleasant, or offensive words or expressions to describe something or someone. It is
often used to create a negative or derogatory effect.
 Referring to a cemetery as a "graveyard."
 Calling a dilapidated building a "dump."
 Using a derogatory term to describe a disliked political figure.
Euphemism: a figure of speech in which a mild or indirect word or expression is used to replace a harsh, blunt, or potentially offensive one.
Euphemisms are often employed to make something unpleasant or sensitive sound less harsh.
 Saying "passed away" instead of "died."
 Using "let go" instead of "fired" in the workplace.
 Referring to a small mistake as a "slip-up."
Litotes: a figure of speech in which an understatement is used to emphasize a point by negating the opposite. It often involves the use of double
negatives or a statement of the negative to convey a positive or strong affirmation.
 "It's not the best weather today." (Implying that the weather is bad.)
 "She's not unkind." (Implying that she is kind.)
 "This isn't a bad place to visit." (Implying that it's a good place to visit.)
Understatement: a figure of speech in which the speaker deliberately downplays or minimizes the significance or importance of something. It is
often used for rhetorical effect, humor, or to create irony.
 Describing a major storm as "a bit of rain."
 Saying "I'm a little tired" after running a marathon.
 Referring to a catastrophic event as "a minor setback."