Literary Devices And Metaphors

verb to wake up from sleep

adjective to be conscious or aware of something

• She awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside her window.
• I finally awoke after hitting the snooze button multiple times.
• I was so tired but managed to awake just in time for the meeting.
• His passion for music awoke within him after attending a concert.

noun a secondary staircase, usually located in the rear of a building

adjective relating to or characteristic of secret or underhanded activities

• The backstairs are reserved for staff use only.
• Let's take the backstairs to avoid the crowds.
• I heard a rumor that they were sneaking around the backstairs.
• She always takes the backstairs approach to solving problems.

verb to make dirty with grime or dirt

• The old building was begrimed with decades of soot and grime.
• I need to clean my car, it's totally begrimed from the muddy roads.
• After working in the garage all day, his hands were completely begrimed.
• The scandal begimed his reputation, leaving a lasting stain on his career.

noun a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea

pronoun a word that can function as a noun phrase used by itself and that refers either to the participants in the discourse (e.g., I, you) or to someone or something mentioned elsewhere in the discourse (e.g., she, it, this)

preposition a word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence

• Beneath one's dignity, lies the act of deceit.
• I can't believe she would stoop so low, it's beneath her.
• Dude, cheating on the test is totally beneath you.
• Beneath one's tough exterior, there is a kind heart.

noun a prolonged period of being under siege

verb to surround a place with armed forces in order to capture it or force its surrender

• The enemy army plans to besiege the city for months.
• The protestors are going to besiege the mayor's office until he listens to their demands.
• I feel like my inbox is besieged with spam emails every day.
• Negative thoughts can besiege your mind if you don't practice mindfulness.

verb to sit or stand with one leg on each side of something

adverb in a manner that involves sitting or standing with one leg on each side of something

• The knight bestrode his horse with confidence as he prepared to face the enemy.
• He bestrode the dance floor like he owned it.
• She bestrode the competition and came out on top.
• His influence bestrode the entire industry, shaping its direction for years to come.

adjective having no bottom or limits; extremely deep or vast

• The bottomless pit seemed to go on forever, its depths shrouded in darkness.
• I could eat bottomless fries at that restaurant all day.
• That party was lit, the drinks were bottomless!
• Her love for him felt bottomless, like it knew no bounds.

noun muscular strength or development

• His impressive brawn allowed him to lift heavy objects with ease.
• I can't believe the brawn on that guy, he must work out a lot.
• Check out the brawn on that dude, he's ripped!
• Her brawn in negotiation tactics helped her secure a better deal.

noun a sweet, fruit-flavored candy or confection

• The chef prepared a tray of assorted comfits for the dessert table.
• I couldn't resist sneaking a few comfits from the candy dish.
• These comfits are so addicting, I can't stop eating them!
• Her sweet words were like comfits for my soul, comforting and delightful.

verb to remove from a position of power or authority, especially from a throne

• The rebels sought to disenthrone the corrupt monarch and establish a new government.
• They're planning to disenthrone the current leader and put someone else in charge.
• Let's disenthrone that jerk and show him who's boss!
• Sometimes we need to disenthrone our own limiting beliefs in order to achieve our full potential.

noun a period of hot, sultry weather occurring during the summer months

• The dog days of summer are typically the hottest and most oppressive days of the season.
• I always feel so lazy during the dog days of summer.
• I can't wait for the dog days to be over so we can start school again.
• During the dog days of the project, everyone was feeling burnt out and unmotivated.

noun a nickname for the Greek god Poseidon, who was believed to cause earthquakes

• The earthshaker event caused widespread destruction in the city.
• Did you feel that earthshaker just now? It shook the whole building!
• That earthquake was a real earthshaker, wasn't it?
• His powerful speech was like an earthshaker, moving the audience to action.

verb to officially declare someone as a ruler or monarch

• The ceremony to enthrone the new king was a grand and solemn affair.
• They're going to enthrone the new boss at the meeting tomorrow.
• I heard they're going to enthrone the new celebrity couple on the cover of that magazine.
• The artist's latest masterpiece will surely enthrone him as a master of his craft.

noun Erebus can also refer to a region of the Antarctic continent, known for its harsh climate and extreme conditions.

• Erebus is a deity in Greek mythology who personifies darkness and shadow.
• I heard that Erebus is the name of a really cool nightclub downtown.
• That movie was so Erebus - it gave me chills!
• The depths of Erebus represent the darkest parts of our subconscious minds.

noun refers to the physical body of a person or animal, often used to emphasize the humanity or physicality of someone

conjunction connects the two nouns 'flesh' and 'blood' to show they are related or connected in some way

• It is important to remember that we are all flesh and blood, with the same needs and desires.
• Hey, don't forget that he's my flesh and blood, so be nice to him.
• I may be tough on the outside, but I'm still your flesh and blood, so show me some love.
• The company is like a family, with all of us being flesh and blood working towards a common goal.

noun useless or discarded objects; odds and ends

• The beach was littered with flotsam and jetsam after the storm.
• There was all sorts of flotsam and jetsam washed up on the shore.
• I can't believe the amount of flotsam and jetsam we found on our beach clean-up.
• In the sea of information online, it's hard to sift through the flotsam and jetsam to find the truth.

noun the weight of something

verb to lift or carry something heavy

• The heft of the book made it difficult to carry for long periods of time.
• He struggled with the heft of the heavy box.
• I can't believe the heft of that burger, it's huge!
• The heft of responsibility weighed heavily on his shoulders.

noun a phosphorescent light that hovers or flits over swampy ground at night, possibly caused by the combustion of gases from decomposed organic matter

• The ignis fatuus is a natural phenomenon that can sometimes be mistaken for a ghostly light in the distance.
• I thought I saw an ignis fatuus while walking in the woods last night, but it turned out to be just a reflection.
• Don't be fooled by that ignis fatuus, it's just a trick of the light.
• His promises were like an ignis fatuus, leading me on but never delivering.

noun a military confrontation or fight

verb to engage in combat or a fight

• The soldiers were ordered to join battle at dawn.
• Hey, are you ready to join the battle tomorrow?
• Let's gear up and join the battle, it's gonna be epic!
• She was ready to join battle against her inner demons and overcome her fears.

adjective describing someone who moves quickly and lightly on their feet

• The ballet dancer moved across the stage with light footed grace.
• She's so light footed, she could probably sneak up on anyone.
• I've never seen anyone so light footed on the dance floor before.
• His mind was light footed, able to navigate through complex problems effortlessly.

verb to make or become lighter in weight or brightness

adjective having decreased in weight or brightness

• The room was lightened by the addition of more windows.
• Adding more windows really lightened up the room.
• The atmosphere totally lightened when everyone started cracking jokes.
• Her mood lightened as she let go of her worries and enjoyed the moment.

noun the layer of the earth between the crust and the core

• The mantle of leadership was passed down to the new CEO.
• She always has a cozy blanket draped over the mantle.
• I heard he's trying to mantle up and ask her out on a date.
• The responsibility of caring for her younger siblings fell on her shoulders like a heavy mantle.

noun a person who is neutral or undecided in politics

• The political candidate was accused of being a mugwump, refusing to align with any party.
• I heard that guy is a total mugwump when it comes to choosing a side in an argument.
• Don't be such a mugwump, just pick a team and stick with it!
• She felt like a mugwump in the office, not fitting in with either the creative team or the analytical team.

noun a situation or experience that is very frightening or unpleasant

• The recurring nightmare has been causing significant distress to the patient.
• Last night's nightmare was so scary, I couldn't go back to sleep.
• That party was a total nightmare, I wish I never went.
• Dealing with that difficult client is a nightmare, I can't wait for it to be over.

noun a cloth spread over a coffin, hearse, or tomb

verb to become less appealing or interesting

• The pall of smoke hung over the city as the firefighters battled the blaze.
• There was a pall of silence in the room after the argument.
• The party was a total pall, nobody was having any fun.
• The news of the company's bankruptcy cast a pall over the employees.

noun a fatal epidemic disease, especially bubonic plague

• The town was ravaged by a deadly pestilence that spread rapidly through the population.
• There's a nasty pestilence going around, so make sure to wash your hands frequently.
• Man, that flu is like a total pestilence, it's knocking everyone out.
• Hate and negativity can spread like a pestilence, infecting every aspect of one's life.

noun a thick, sticky substance produced by the mucous membranes in the respiratory system, typically as a result of infection or irritation

• The doctor explained that phlegm is a thick, mucus-like substance produced by the respiratory system.
• I hate it when I have to cough up phlegm when I'm sick.
• I can't stand the feeling of all that phlegm in my throat.
• His words were like phlegm, thick and hard to swallow.

verb to decay or rot, especially through the action of bacteria or fungi

• If organic matter is left to decompose for too long, it will putrefy and produce foul odors.
• Don't leave those leftovers in the fridge for too long, they'll putrefy and stink up the whole kitchen.
• I forgot to take out the trash and now the garbage is starting to putrefy. Gross!
• Hate and resentment can putrefy in a person's heart if not addressed and resolved.

noun a putrid smell or substance

adjective in a state of foul decay or decomposition; rotten

• The putrid smell coming from the dumpster was unbearable.
• Ew, that leftover food in the fridge is starting to smell putrid.
• I can't believe you're still wearing those putrid sneakers.
• The corruption in that company's leadership was like a putrid disease spreading throughout the organization.

noun a group or set of five similar things

• The doctor explained the risks and challenges of carrying quintuplets to full term.
• Can you imagine having quintuplets? That would be crazy!
• Having quintuplets would be a total game changer.
• Her workload has quintupled since taking on that new project.

adjective having a strong or unpleasant smell or taste as a result of being old and stale

• The smell of the rancid meat filled the room, indicating it had gone bad.
• I accidentally left the milk out and now it's rancid.
• Ew, this cheese is so rancid, I can't eat it.
• The relationship between the two friends had turned rancid after the argument.

noun a mark or injury caused by burning

verb to burn the surface of something with a sudden, intense heat

• The intense heat from the sun can scorch the earth's surface.
• I left my car parked in the sun and now the seats are scorched.
• Don't touch that pan, it's scorching hot!
• The criticism from her boss seemed to scorch her confidence.

adjective wearing shoes; protected or covered with a shoe or shoes

• The horse was shod with new horseshoes before the race.
• I need to get my boots shod before the winter comes.
• I got my sneakers shod with some cool new designs.
• His arguments were shod with solid evidence and reasoning.

noun There is no noun form of 'shorn'.

verb past participle of shear, meaning to cut off the hair or wool from

adjective having had the hair or wool cut or clipped off

• The sheep's wool was shorn by the skilled shearer.
• I finally got my hair shorn after months of growth.
• He got his beard shorn at the barber shop.
• Her dreams of success were shorn by the harsh reality of the situation.

noun the quality or state of being small in size

• The smallness of the apartment made it difficult to fit all of the furniture.
• I love the smallness of this coffee shop, it feels cozy and intimate.
• I can't believe the smallness of that dog, it's so cute!
• The smallness of her heart was evident in the way she treated others.

noun a piece of bread or pastry that is soaked in liquid before being eaten

verb to soak up liquid with a piece of bread or pastry

• The chef used a small piece of bread as a sop to soak up the delicious sauce.
• I always use a piece of bread as a sop to clean my plate.
• She loves to sop up the gravy with her biscuits.
• His apology was just a sop to make up for his mistake.

adjective describing something as being made of or resembling stone; hard or unfeeling

• The stony facade of the building gave it a timeless and elegant look.
• She found a comfortable spot to sit on the stony ground.
• The stony silence from the group made him feel uneasy.
• His stony expression revealed nothing about his true feelings.

noun a small porch or set of steps at the front entrance of a house

verb to bend one's head or body forward and downward

• She had to stoop down to pick up the fallen papers.
• I had to stoop to reach the bottom shelf at the store.
• Don't stoop to their level by engaging in petty arguments.
• His actions caused his reputation to stoop to new lows.

noun a noun is a word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this case, 'apart' can also be a noun when referring to a state of being separated or divided.

verb a verb is a word that expresses an action or state of being. In this case, 'tear' is a verb meaning to pull or rip something into pieces forcefully.

adverb an adverb is a word that modifies or describes a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In this case, 'apart' is an adverb that describes how the tearing action is done, indicating that something is being separated into pieces.

preposition a preposition is a word that shows the relationship between a noun or pronoun and other words in a sentence. In this case, 'apart' is a preposition indicating the separation or division of something into pieces.

• The hurricane's strong winds were able to tear apart buildings and uproot trees.
• I saw my little brother tear apart his toy car in a fit of frustration.
• Don't let negative comments tear you apart, you're better than that.
• The divorce proceedings threatened to tear apart the family's already fragile relationships.

noun a thick, sticky dark syrup made from partly refined sugar; molasses

• The recipe called for a cup of treacle to add sweetness to the dessert.
• I accidentally spilled treacle all over the kitchen counter while baking.
• I love spreading treacle on my toast in the morning.
• His words were like treacle, sweet but sticky and hard to shake off.

noun a small wheel or roller

verb to submit or behave obsequiously; to be servile or deferential

• The truckle was used to store the valuable documents in the office.
• Can you grab that truckle over there and bring it to the meeting room?
• I found a cool truckle at the thrift store for a great price.
• He always truckles to his boss in order to get ahead in his career.

verb to cause to fall from a horse; to dismount or throw from a horse

• The knight managed to unhorse his opponent during the jousting tournament.
• I saw that guy get unhorsed in the rodeo last night.
• He got totally unhorsed in the debate with his boss.
• The unexpected news completely unhorsed her and left her speechless.

verb to release or set free from confinement, as if taking something out of a pen or enclosure

• The author decided to unpen his thoughts and feelings in a new book.
• I can't believe she unpened all her secrets to him!
• I heard he unpened some juicy gossip about the party last night.
• She felt like she had unpened a floodgate of emotions during their conversation.

adjective Describing a state of being overgrown with weeds or not properly maintained.

• The garden was left unweeded for weeks, causing the plants to struggle for sunlight and nutrients.
• My backyard is looking pretty unweeded right now, I really need to get out there and do some gardening.
• I can't believe how unweeded this place is, it's like a jungle out here!
• Her mind felt cluttered and unweeded, filled with thoughts that needed to be sorted through and cleared out.

noun small animals that are harmful or annoying, such as rats or cockroaches

• The exterminator was called in to rid the building of vermin.
• I saw a mouse in the kitchen last night, we have a vermin problem.
• I can't stand those rats, they're such vermin.
• Hate is like a vermin that slowly eats away at your soul.

noun the quality or state of being voracious; excessive desire to eat or consume large quantities of food

• The voracity of the lion's appetite was evident as it devoured its prey in mere minutes.
• I was amazed by the voracity with which he ate his burger, he finished it in seconds!
• Her voracity for shopping is insane, she can't resist buying something every time she goes out.
• The voracity of his ambition knew no bounds, driving him to achieve great success in his career.

noun the mark left on the skin by a blow or wound

verb to inflict a wale on someone

• The wale of the ship was carefully inspected for any signs of damage.
• I saw a wale breach the surface of the water while we were out on the boat.
• That wale is huge! It must have been feeding well.
• The wale of emotions that came over her when she heard the news was overwhelming.

adjective describing the state of being pregnant

preposition indicating the condition of being pregnant

• The woman was seen walking with child in the park.
• She's going to be walking with child soon.
• She's preggo and walking with child.
• The project was in its early stages, still with child.

adjective describing the condition of being eaten by worms

• The old book was worm eaten and needed to be carefully handled.
• I found a worm eaten apple in the fruit bowl.
• That wooden table is so worm eaten, it's practically falling apart.
• The once bustling town now appeared worm eaten, with abandoned buildings and neglected streets.

noun destruction or wreckage

verb to wreck or ruin

• The ship was left in a state of wrack after the storm.
• The beach was covered in wrack after the high tide.
• I can't believe how much wrack washed up on shore today.
• Her mind was in a state of wrack after the traumatic event.

noun a small portion or slice of something

• The cantle of the saddle provides support and stability for the rider.
• Make sure you adjust the cantle on the saddle before you ride.
• I almost fell off because the cantle wasn't tight enough.
• The cantle of the company's success lies in its innovative products.

noun A word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. In this sentence, 'cat' and 'lives' are nouns.

verb A word that expresses an action or state of being. In this sentence, 'has' is a verb.

adjective A word that describes or modifies a noun. In this sentence, there are no adjectives.

adverb A word that modifies a verb, adjective, or another adverb. In this sentence, there are no adverbs.

pronoun A word that takes the place of a noun. In this sentence, there are no pronouns.

preposition A word that shows the relationship between a noun (or pronoun) and other words in a sentence. In this sentence, there are no prepositions.

conjunction A word that connects words, phrases, or clauses. In this sentence, there are no conjunctions.

interjection A word or phrase that expresses strong emotion. In this sentence, there are no interjections.

article A word that specifies a noun as definite or indefinite. In this sentence, 'a' is an article.

• According to superstition, it is believed that a cat has nine lives.
• You know how they say a cat has nine lives, well my cat definitely proves that theory true.
• I swear, my cat must think it's invincible with those nine lives.
• Just like a cat has nine lives, she always seems to bounce back from any setback.

noun a person or individual

verb a word used to describe an action or state of being

adjective a word that describes or modifies a noun

adverb a word that modifies a verb, adjective, or other adverb

• It is a well-known fact that someone will not make old bones if they do not take care of their health.
• I heard that someone will not make old bones if they keep living such a reckless lifestyle.
• Dude, if you keep partying every night, someone will not make old bones, you know?
• If you keep taking such risks, someone will not make old bones in this dangerous environment.

adjective relating to or denoting the depths or bottom of the sea or of a lake

• The abyssal zone of the ocean is the deepest and least explored region.
• I heard that the abyssal part of the ocean is super deep.
• Diving into the abyssal waters is no joke, man.
• After the breakup, she felt like she was in an abyssal pit of despair.