All Types of Figures of Speech for Competitive Exams with Detailed Definitions and Examples

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All Types of Figures of Speech for Competitive Exams with Detailed Definitions and Examples

Figures of speech add flavor, creativity, and depth to language. They are essential not just for creative writing but also play a vital role in competitive exams.In this post we are going to discuss All Types of Figures of Speech for Competitive Exams with Detailed Definitions and Examples, Understanding these literary devices thoroughly can give you a significant edge in exams like UPSC, SSC, IBPS, UGC-NET and others.

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1. Introduction to Figures of Speech

Figures of speech are linguistic tools that enhance the expressiveness of language. They help convey meanings in creative, non-literal ways. Whether you’re reading poetry, literature, or tackling English questions in competitive exams, figures of speech are omnipresent.

2. Why Are Figures of Speech Important in Competitive Exams?

Competitive exams often have sections testing language and comprehension skills. Figures of speech are crucial as they appear in questions related to sentence improvement, comprehension, and literature. By mastering these devices, candidates can understand complex texts better, improve their answers, and stand out in written sections.

3. Categories of Figures of Speech

Figures of speech fall into two broad categories:

Tropes

These involve a change in meaning, where words are used in a way that is different from their literal meaning. For example, metaphors and similes.

Schemes

These involve a change in the standard pattern or arrangement of words. For instance, alliteration and repetition.

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4. Metaphor

Definition:

A metaphor directly compares two unlike things without using “like” or “as.” It creates a vivid image in the reader’s mind by suggesting one thing is another.

5 Examples of Metaphor:

1. The world is a stage.
2. Time is a thief.
3. Her heart is made of stone.
4. His words were a double-edged sword.
5. The classroom was a zoo.

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5. Simile

Definition:

A simile compares two different things using “like” or “as.” It helps the reader visualize by showing how one thing resembles another.

5 Examples of Simile:

1. She is as busy as a bee.
2. He fought like a lion.
3. Her smile was bright like the sun.
4. He’s as brave as a lion.
5. The night was as black as coal.

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6. Personification

Definition:

Personification gives human traits and qualities to non-human things or abstract ideas.

5 Examples of Personification:

1. The wind whispered through the trees.
2. The sun smiled down on us.
3. Time flies when you’re having fun.
4. The car groaned as it struggled up the hill.
5. The flowers danced in the breeze.

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7. Hyperbole

Definition:

Hyperbole is an exaggerated statement used for emphasis or dramatic effect, not meant to be taken literally.

5 Examples of Hyperbole:

1. I’ve told you a million times.
2. He runs faster than the wind.
3. This bag weighs a ton.
4. I’m so hungry I could eat a horse.
5. She cried a river of tears.

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8. Irony

Definition:

Irony involves a contrast between appearance and reality. It’s often used to express a situation that ends up in an unexpected way.

5 Examples of Irony:

1. The fire station burned down.
2. A pilot afraid of heights.
3. Posting on Facebook about how useless Facebook is.
4. The police station got robbed.
5. The teacher failed the test.

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9. Alliteration

Definition:

Alliteration is the repetition of the same consonant sound at the beginning of closely connected words.

5 Examples of Alliteration:

1. Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
2. She sells sea shells by the sea shore.
3. Betty bought butter but the butter was bitter.
4. Five friendly frogs frolicked in the forest.
5. Big black bugs bleed black blood.

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10. Onomatopoeia

Definition:

Onomatopoeia is a word that imitates the natural sound of a thing.

5 Examples of Onomatopoeia:

1. The bees buzzed in the garden.
2. The fire crackled in the fireplace.
3. The clock ticked away the hours.
4. The snake hissed at its prey.
5. The door creaked open slowly.

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11. Oxymoron

Definition:

An oxymoron is a figure of speech that combines two contradictory terms.

5 Examples of Oxymoron:

1. Bitter sweet.
2. Jumbo shrimp.
3. Deafening silence.
4. Act naturally.
5. Alone together.

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12. Pun

Definition:

A pun is a play on words that exploits multiple meanings of a word or similar-sounding words for a humorous effect.

5 Examples of Pun:

1. I’m reading a book on anti-gravity – it’s impossible to put down!
2. Time flies like an arrow; fruit flies like a banana
3. .A bicycle can’t stand on its own because it’s two-tired.
4. I was struggling to figure out how lightning works, then it struck me.
5. I used to be a baker, but I couldn’t finish the dough.

13. Euphemism

Definition:

A euphemism is a polite or mild word or expression used to refer to something more blunt or harsh.

5 Examples of Euphemism:

1. Sanitation engineer instead of garbage man.
2. . Passed away instead of died.
3. Economically disadvantaged instead of poor.
4. Correctional facility instead of prison.
5. Let go instead of fired.

14. Synecdoche

Definition:

Synecdoche is a figure of speech in which a part is used to represent the whole, or vice versa. It often emphasizes the relationship between a part and its entirety.

5 Examples of Synecdoche:

1. All hands on deck – Referring to sailors by their hands, emphasizing the crew’s labor.
2. The White House as the personification of the U.S. government** – Using the name of the residence to refer to the President and their administration.
3. Wheels – Referring to a car, focusing on the part that is essential for its movement.
4. Threads – Referring to clothing, emphasizing the material rather than the complete garment.
5. Nice wheels! – Complimenting someone on their car by referring to its wheels.

15. Metonymy

Definition:

Metonymy is a figure of speech that replaces the name of one thing with the name of something else closely associated with it. It relies on a context-based relationship rather than a part-whole relationship.

5 Examples of Metonymy:

1. The suits on Wall Street – Referring to business executives or professionals by their attire.
2. The pen is mightier than the sword – Using “pen” to represent writing and “sword” to represent military force.
3. Hollywood is known for its movies – Referring to the American film industry by the place associated with it.
4. The Oval Office – Referring to the U.S. President’s executive actions and decisions.
5. Wall Street – Using the name of the street to represent the financial industry.

16. Antithesis

Definition:

Antithesis is a figure of speech that juxtaposes contrasting ideas in a balanced manner, highlighting the difference between them.

5 Examples of Antithesis:

1. Many are called, but few are chosen – Biblical reference.
2. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times – Charles Dickens.
3. To err is human; to forgive, divine – Alexander Pope.
4. That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind – Neil Armstrong.
5. Give me liberty or give me death – Patrick Henry.

17. Apostrophe

Definition:

Apostrophe is a figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent person, an abstract idea, or an inanimate object as if it were present and capable of responding.

5 Examples of Apostrophe:

1. Freedom! You have taken too much from me – Directly addressing the concept of freedom.
2. O Death, where is thy sting? – A rhetorical question addressing Death directly.
3. Twinkle, twinkle, little star, how I wonder what you are – Addressing the star.
4. Oh, love, where have you gone? – Speaking directly to the abstract concept of love.
5. Come, you spirits that tend on mortal thoughts, unsex me here! – Lady Macbeth addressing supernatural entities in Macbeth.

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18. Litotes

Definition:

Litotes is an ironic understatement in which an affirmative is expressed by the negation of its opposite. It emphasizes a point by using double negatives or negative phrasing.

5 Examples of Litotes:

1. She’s not unkind – Implies she is kind.
2. It’s not the best weather today – Implies that the weather is bad.
3. He’s not the friendliest person – Suggests he is unfriendly.
4. That’s not a bad idea – Implies that the idea is good.
5. You won’t regret it – Suggests you will benefit from the decision.

19. Anaphora

Definition:

Anaphora is a rhetorical device that involves the repetition of a word or phrase at the beginning of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis.

5 Examples of Anaphora:

1. We shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds… – Winston Churchill.
2. I have a dream – Martin Luther King Jr.
3. Every day, every night, in every way, I am getting better and better.
4. It was the best of times, it was the worst of times… – Charles Dickens.
5. To err is human; to forgive, divine.

20. Epistrophe

Definition:

Epistrophe is a rhetorical device involving the repetition of a word or phrase at the end of successive clauses or sentences for emphasis.

5 Examples of Epistrophe:

1. …and that’s what I’ll do, and that’s how I’ll succeed, and that’s how I’ll be happy.
2. …and that government of the people, by the people, for the people shall not perish from the earth. – Abraham Lincoln.
3. Where now? Who now? When now? – Samuel Beckett.
4. The big sycamore by the creek was gone. The willow tangle was gone. The little log cabin was gone.
5. You are a king! You are a queen! You are a warrior!

21. Paradox

Definition:

A paradox is a statement that appears contradictory or self-refuting but may nonetheless express a truth.

5 Examples of Paradox:

1. I can resist anything but temptation. – Oscar Wilde.
2. Less is more.
3. This statement is false.
4. I know one thing; that I know nothing. – Socrates.
5. The only thing I have to offer is my emptiness.

22. Chiasmus

Definition:

Chiasmus is a rhetorical device in which words or concepts are repeated in reverse order in the same or a modified form.

5 Examples of Chiasmus:

1. Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. – Martin Luther King Jr.
2. Never let a Fool Kiss You or a Kiss Fool You.
3. Ask not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country. – John F. Kennedy.
4. I’d rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not. – Kurt Cobain.
5. We shape our buildings, and afterwards our buildings shape us. – Winston Churchill.

23. Allusion

Definition:

Allusion is an indirect reference to a person, event, place, or literary work, assumed to be known by the reader.

5 Examples of Allusion:

1. He met his Waterloo. – Reference to Napoleon’s defeat.
2. He’s a real Romeo with the ladies. – Reference to Shakespeare’s character.
3. She’s a Good Samaritan. – Reference to a Biblical parable.
4. That was his Achilles’ heel. – Reference to Greek mythology.
5. This place is like a Garden of Eden. – Reference to the Biblical paradise.

24. Assonance

Definition:

Assonance is the repetition of vowel sounds in nearby words to create rhythm and enhance musicality.

5 Examples of Assonance:

1. It’s hot and humid in the summer.
2. Hear the mellow wedding bells. – Edgar Allan Poe.
3. The light of the fire is a sight.
4. Men sell the wedding bells.
5. Go and mow the lawn.

25. Consonance

Definition:

Consonance is the repetition of consonant sounds in close proximity, typically at the end of words, to create a harmonious effect.

5 Examples of Consonance:

1. He struck a streak of bad luck.
2. Mike likes his new bike.
3. The lumpy, bumpy road.
4. The ship has sailed to the far-off shore.
5. Pitter-patter, pitter-patter.

26. Tautology

Definition:

Tautology is the unnecessary repetition of an idea or statement in different words; it often emphasizes a point.

5 Examples of Tautology:

1. Repeat again.
2. Free gift.
3. ATM machine. (Automated Teller Machine machine)
4. Close proximity.
5. Revert back.

27. Climax

Definition:

Climax is a figure of speech that involves arranging words, phrases, or clauses in order of increasing importance or intensity.

5 Examples of Climax:

1. He works hard, he plays hard, and he loves hard.
2. I came, I saw, I conquered. – Julius Caesar.
3. There is a tide in the affairs of men, which taken at the flood, leads on to fortune. – William Shakespeare.
4. In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends. – Martin Luther King Jr.
5. To err is human; to forgive, divine; to love is eternal.

28. Anti-climax

Definition:

Anti-climax is a figure of speech in which a series of events leads to an unexpected or trivial conclusion, often producing a humorous effect.

5 Examples of Anti-climax:

1. The champion boxer went from winning titles to losing to a ten-year-old in a friendly match.
2. He was a great warrior, a skilled politician, and a terrible cook.
3. After an exciting build-up, the movie ended with a simple fade-out.
4. She was poised to become a famous singer, but instead, she decided to open a bakery.
5. He trained for years to win the gold medal, only to trip and fall at the finish line.

29. Zeugma

Definition:

Zeugma is a rhetorical device in which a single word (usually a verb or an adjective) is used to govern two or more words in a sentence, often creating a unique or humorous effect.

5 Examples of Zeugma:

1. You held your breath and the door for me.
2. He stole her heart and her wallet.
3. She broke his car and his heart.
4. The teacher assigned homework and a punishment.
5. He lost his coat and his temper.

30. Anthimeria

Definition:

Anthimeria is a rhetorical device that involves the use of a word in a new grammatical form, often changing its part of speech, to create a fresh meaning.

5 Examples of Anthimeria:

1. I’ll “text” you later. (Using a noun as a verb)
2. I’m going to “google” that. (Using a noun as a verb)
3. She “facebooked” me last night.
4. Let’s “crowdsource” this project.
5. He has a “babyface.” (Noun used as an adjective)

31. Pleonasm

Definition:

Pleonasm is the use of more words than necessary to convey meaning, often resulting in redundancy for emphasis.

5 Examples of Pleonasm:

1. She is a true and genuine friend.
2. I saw it with my own eyes.
3. The plan was a complete and utter failure.
4. He made a free gift.
5. They are collaborating together.

32. Ellipsis

Definition:

Ellipsis is a rhetorical device that involves the omission of one or more words that are understood in context, allowing the sentence to remain grammatically correct while still conveying meaning.

5 Examples of Ellipsis:

1. He can play the guitar; I, the piano. (Omission of “can play”)
2. I went to the mall on Monday, and she on Tuesday. (Omission of “went”)
3. He prefers pizza; she, salad. (Omission of “prefers”)
4. I like to swim, and she to run. (Omission of “likes”)
5. You went to the store; I, to the park. (Omission of “went”)

33. Polysyndeton

Definition:

Polysyndeton is a literary device that involves the repeated use of conjunctions (like “and” or “or”) in a series of words or phrases, often to emphasize the multitude or complexity of the items listed.

5 Examples of Polysyndeton:

1. For breakfast, I had eggs and toast and fruit and coffee.
2. We have a lot of work to do and a lot of meetings to attend and a lot of deadlines to meet.
3. He ran and jumped and laughed for joy.
4. I want a hot dog and a hamburger and fries and a drink.
5. She is smart and funny and kind and beautiful.

34. Asyndeton

Definition:

Asyndeton is a rhetorical device that omits conjunctions between parts of a sentence, creating a fast-paced and dramatic effect.

5 Examples of Asyndeton:

1. The sun rose, the birds sang, the world awoke.
2. I came, I saw, I conquered. – Julius Caesar.
3. He was a man of great wealth, power, influence.
4. I want pizza, pasta, salad.
5. We will fight, we will win, we will survive.

35. Paralipsis

Definition:

Paralipsis is a rhetorical device where the speaker or writer brings up a subject by denying that it should be brought up, often to emphasize it.

5 Examples of Paralipsis:

1. I won’t discuss the rumors, but they are quite interesting.
2. I won’t even mention the fact that you were late.
3. Not to mention the numerous awards he’s received.
4. I won’t say anything about his poor grades, but…
5. It’s not my place to comment on her mistakes.

36. Hypophora

Definition:

Hypophora is a rhetorical device where the speaker poses a question and then immediately answers it, often used to guide the audience’s thoughts.

5 Examples of Hypophora:

1. What can we do to help the environment? We can reduce waste and recycle more.
2. What is the meaning of life? The meaning of life is to find purpose.
3. Why do we strive for success? Because success brings fulfillment and happiness.
4. What does it mean to be a leader? A leader inspires and motivates others.
5. Why is education important? Education opens doors and creates opportunities.

37. Understatement

Definition:

Understatement is a rhetorical device in which a writer or speaker deliberately makes a situation seem less important or serious than it is, often for ironic or humorous effect.

5 Examples of Understatement:

1. She has a knack for singing. (Referring to an incredible voice)
2. It’s just a scratch. (Referring to a large dent)
3. He’s not the best student in class. (Referring to someone failing)
4. I have a bit of a headache. (Referring to a migraine)
5. The weather is a little chilly. (Referring to a snowstorm)

38. Rhetorical Question

Definition:

A rhetorical question is a question that is asked for effect or to make a point rather than to get an answer, often implying that the answer is obvious.

5 Examples of Rhetorical Questions:

1. Isn’t it time for a change?
2. Isn’t it a bit too late to start now?
3. Who doesn’t love a good mystery?
4. What’s the worst that could happen?
5. Do we really want to go down that road?

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FAQs:

1. What are figures of speech?
   Figures of speech are literary devices used to add depth, color, and emphasis to language. They help convey ideas in a more imaginative and engaging way by deviating from the literal meaning of words.
2. Why are figures of speech important for competitive exams?
   Figures of speech are often tested in competitive exams to assess a candidate’s understanding of language, literature, and rhetorical techniques. Mastering them can help improve comprehension and analytical skills in reading and writing.
3. How can I remember different figures of speech?
   To remember figures of speech, try associating each term with an example or visual cue, practice using them in sentences, and regularly test yourself with exercises or quizzes.
4. What’s the difference between a metaphor and a simile?
   Both compare two things, but a metaphor does so directly without using “like” or “as,” while a simile uses these words to make the comparison more explicit. Example of metaphor: “Time is a thief.” Example of simile: “Time is like a thief.”
5. How can I improve my use of figures of speech in writing?
   You can improve by reading literature, practicing creative writing, and trying to incorporate various figures of speech naturally. Also, study well-known examples and understand their context to see how they enhance meaning.

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