figure of speech
noun phrase
: a form of expression (such as a simile or metaphor) used to convey meaning or heighten effect often by comparing or identifying one thing with another that has a meaning or connotation familiar to the reader or listener
Examples of figure of speech in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
And in Top Fuel, that’s not just a figure of speech.
—
Greg Engle, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
When used well, figures of speech provide vivid imagery, which helps you as a leader cut through the clutter to get individuals’ attention.
—Liz Guthridge, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Each puzzle showcases her particular gift for playing on figures of speech with a specificity that’s both dad jokey and incredibly smart.
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
How did this figure of speech become a pejorative for elitist artistic and/or intellectual seclusion—something to be gotten out of or pulled down for the good of the cause, the community, or, more recently, the all-encompassing market?
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 Jan. 2025
These tools, called figures of speech, are valuable for evoking emotions, explaining important concepts and improving our relationships with others.
—Liz Guthridge, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
The internet didn’t exist, the tweet and blog post were not yet known as forms or figures of speech.
—Harper’s Magazine, Harper's Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024
Amplifying with Hyperbole Ever used a figure of speech to emphasize a point?
—Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
This is not a figure of speech—literally in three days.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
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Greg Engle, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
When used well, figures of speech provide vivid imagery, which helps you as a leader cut through the clutter to get individuals’ attention.
—Liz Guthridge, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
Each puzzle showcases her particular gift for playing on figures of speech with a specificity that’s both dad jokey and incredibly smart.
—Sam Corbin, New York Times, 8 Jan. 2025
How did this figure of speech become a pejorative for elitist artistic and/or intellectual seclusion—something to be gotten out of or pulled down for the good of the cause, the community, or, more recently, the all-encompassing market?
—Matthew Wills, JSTOR Daily, 4 Jan. 2025
These tools, called figures of speech, are valuable for evoking emotions, explaining important concepts and improving our relationships with others.
—Liz Guthridge, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
The internet didn’t exist, the tweet and blog post were not yet known as forms or figures of speech.
—Harper’s Magazine, Harper's Magazine, 2 Oct. 2024
Amplifying with Hyperbole Ever used a figure of speech to emphasize a point?
—Sherzod Odilov, Forbes, 8 Oct. 2024
This is not a figure of speech—literally in three days.
—Yasmeen Serhan, TIME, 15 Aug. 2024
Cite this Entry
“Figure of speech.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/figure%20of%20speech. Accessed 13 Jul. 2025.
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