Figures of Speech with Examples- Definition, Importance

Figures of Speech

What are Figures of Speech?

A figure of Speech is a word that departed from the usual form of expression to make it more effective. It is figurative language, in other words, Saying something in a more effective way than the ordinary way. Those should be used in a non-literal sense.

Advantages of Figures of Speech

1. Using figurative language in Sentences brings professionality.
2. Figures of Speech are eye-catching. so, it attracts people. It brings life to the sentence/statement.
3. It makes the reading enjoyable.

How many Figures of Speech are there?

There is no particular number regarding this count of Figures of Speech. But, there are 26 Figures of Speech which are given below. In general, we use only some figures of speech in our daily life.

Types of Figures of Speech:

1. ADJUNCTION

It is a phrase/clause/word that is placed at the beginning & Ending of a Sentence.

Example:
1. Fades the strength of a man during sick

2. ALLITERATION

It is the repetition word of the beginning Sound in a sentence. The beginning sound of a word keeps on repeating in the sentence. Alliteration tends to be Tongue Twisters.

Example:
1. Jump for Joy
2. Sweet smell of success

3. ANAPHORA

It is a word where several phrases/clauses/words begin with the Same word.

Example:
1. we desired, we paid, and we lost
2. I Came, I saw, I conquered

4. ANTITHESIS

It is used to differentiate two Contrasting ideas together (or) two opposites.

Example:
1. Make one Small Step for one giant decision
2. Art is Long, Life is short

5. ASSONANCE

It is the repetitive Vowel Sound in the words that are closer and together.

Example:
1. clap your hands and stamp your feet
2. The Sun rose High in the bright sky
                                                   

6. CHIASMUS

A verbal pattern in which the Second half of an expression is balanced against the first, but the parts are reversed.

Example:
1. You forget what you wanted to remember and remembered what you wanted to forget.

7. CLIMAX

It is used for the words/phrases/ clauses that are arranged in order of increasing importance.

Example:
1. Let man know the True God, Himself, Family, and Nation

8. EPIGRAM

It is used in the situations of Concise It refers to a concise, witty, memorable, Surprising or Satirical Statement.

Example:
1. There are no gains without pains
2. If you won't Kill the Snake, the Snake will kill you

9. EUPHEMISM

It is a word that replaces another word to make the Sentence more Polite.

Example:
1. Passed Away - Instead of using Died
2. Bald - Instead of using A little thin/flat on top

10. FABLE

It talks about the happenings of the Supernatural. Here, Animals Speak and can act like Humans.

Example:
Slow & steady wins the face

11. HYPERBOLE

It is used to emphasise a matter more effectively.

Example:
1. I've told you thousand Times
2. It Costs a billion Dollars

12. IRONY

It is used for words where the meaning is opposite of their usual/actual Meanings.

Example:
1. The Titanic was said to be Unsinkable
2. A Traffic Cop get Suspended for not paying his Parking Tickets

13. LITOTES

It is used by Quoting Double Negatives. A positive Statement is expressed Negatively. But it is not a Negative.

Example:
1. The pen is not too bad
2. I Cannot disagree with your Reply

14. METAPHOR

It Compares two unlike things or two different ideas.

Example:
1. Heart of Stone
2. She is a night owl

15. METONYMY

It is a word used to replace another word.

Example:
1. CROWN – It used for Royalty
2. SILICON VALLEY – It used for Tech Industries

16. ONOMATOPOEIA

It is a word that is used for Sounds that describes. It makes a sound. In other words, Sounds are described with ONOMATOPOEIA.

Example:
1. Whoosh - Sound for Silence.
2. S... S... Sound of a Shake.
3. Z... Z... Sound of a Bee.
4. Boom - Sound used for Explosion/Blast

17. OXYMORON

Two Contradictory words are combined to create an effect.

Example:
The Room filled with a defeating Silence

18. PARABLE

A short imaginative & fictional story that illustrates a moral from a religious principle.

Example:
This life is a parable of the Corrupting effect of Great Wealth

19. PARADOX

It proves to be very revealing about Human Nature And the way we speak.

Example:
1. I'm a wise fool
2. Don't lie so Bittersweet

20. PERIPHRASES

It is a use of longer phrasing in place of a shorter form of Expression.

Example:
1. His prominent feature was like an eagle's beak

21. PERSONIFICATION

It gives Human Qualities to Non-living brings.

Example:
1. Snowflakes danced like Stalin
2. The Wind Howled

22. SIMILE

It helps in comparing two, unlike things. Using the words "Like & Us."

Example:
1. He is Jumping like Kangaroo
2. He is as blind as a Bat

23. SYNECDOCHE

The whole is represented by a part (or) A part represents the Whole.

Example:
1. Wheels - A car
2. Coke - Any Cola Drink
3. Lend me Your ears

24. TAUTOLOGY

The Repetition of Words/phrases that have Similar Meanings. In other words, Expressing something more times with similar meanings.

Example:
1. Shout it out Loud
2. Repeat it again

25. UNDERSTATEMENT

Here, the speaker deliberately can make an issue Serious, or Funny.

Example:
1. Bill gates is a poor person
2. Lion eats Vegetables

26. ZEUGMA

A single word is framed with two other parts of a Sentence. And that must be understood differently by each.

Example:
1. He broke his Mobile and his Heart
2. I saw lots of Thunder and lightning