What describes a figure of speech that makes a comparison using "like" or "as"?

A figure of speech that makes a comparison using "like" or "as" is known as a simile. This literary device is specifically designed for drawing clear parallels between two different things by highlighting similarities. For example, when someone says, "Her smile was as bright as the sun," they are using a simile to convey the brightness of the smile by comparing it directly to the sun.

In contrast, a metaphor makes a direct comparison without using "like" or "as," suggesting one thing is another to emphasize the shared characteristics. An oxymoron combines two contradictory terms to create a unique expression, such as "deafening silence," while personification attributes human qualities to non-human entities or objects, as in "the wind whispered through the trees." Understanding these distinctions helps in recognizing how similes enhance descriptions and portray emotions or images vividly in language.