Which figure of speech uses like or as to compare two things?

• A. Metaphor
• B. Hyperbole
• C. Simile
• D. Analogy

Answer: (C)

Simile is a figure of speech that uses like or as to compare two unlike things, linking them to highlight a shared quality. This direct use of like or as is what makes a simile fit the description in the question. For example, saying someone is "as brave as a lion" or "like a fish out of water" shows the comparison explicitly through those connecting words.

This differs from a metaphor, which makes a direct claim that one thing is another (not using like or as). It also differs from hyperbole, which relies on exaggerated statements for effect, and from analogy, which draws a more extended comparison of relationships rather than a simple, direct likeness. So the comparison using like or as is the hallmark of a simile.