Similes are powerful figurative comparisons that use the words “like” or “as” to paint vivid pictures in a reader’s mind. Instead of saying something is “very fast” or “very cold,” a well-chosen simile can express that feeling with beauty and precision — like saying “as fast as lightning” or “as cold as ice.”
In this guide, you’ll explore 35 similes for “very” — creative and emotional phrases that elevate everyday language. Whether you’re a student, writer, or creative soul, you’ll learn each simile’s meaning, see natural examples, and discover how to make your writing more expressive.
💬 Let’s transform simple sentences into poetic expressions together!
🌟 1. As Bright as the Sun
Meaning: Extremely radiant or full of light.
Quote: “Her smile was as bright as the sun, lighting up every corner of the room.”
Examples:
- The diamond sparkled as bright as the sun.
- His confidence shone as bright as the sun.
- The festival decorations gleamed as bright as the sun.
💎 2. As Cold as Ice
Meaning: Extremely cold or emotionally distant.
Quote: “His hands felt as cold as ice when he reached for mine.”
Examples:
- The wind was as cold as ice.
- Her tone turned as cold as ice.
- The lake surface looked as cold as ice in the dawn light.
⚡ 3. As Fast as Lightning
Meaning: Extremely quick or sudden.
Quote: “He ran as fast as lightning to catch the last bus.”
Examples:
- The cheetah moved as fast as lightning.
- Her reply came as fast as lightning.
- The thief disappeared as fast as lightning.
🕊️ 4. As Light as a Feather
Meaning: Very light in weight or feeling carefree.
Quote: “Her laughter made me feel as light as a feather.”
Examples:
- The fabric was as light as a feather.
- His heart felt as light as a feather after the news.
- The cloud drifted as light as a feather.
🔥 5. As Hot as Fire
Meaning: Extremely hot or intense.
Quote: “The desert sand was as hot as fire under our feet.”
Examples:
- The stove was as hot as fire.
- Her passion burned as hot as fire.
- The debate grew as hot as fire.
💧 6. As Clear as Crystal
Meaning: Extremely clear or transparent.
Quote: “The lake water was as clear as crystal.”
Examples:
- Her intentions were as clear as crystal.
- The sky looked as clear as crystal.
- His explanation was as clear as crystal.
🌙 7. As Dark as Night
Meaning: Very dark or mysterious.
Quote: “The cave was as dark as night.”
Examples:
- Her eyes were as dark as night.
- The forest seemed as dark as night.
- The blackout made everything as dark as night.
💫 8. As Quiet as a Mouse
Meaning: Extremely quiet or shy.
Quote: “The child stood as quiet as a mouse during the speech.”
Examples:
- The room was as quiet as a mouse.
- He moved as quiet as a mouse.
- The cat waited as quiet as a mouse.
🪞 9. As Smooth as Silk
Meaning: Very smooth or effortless.
Quote: “Her voice was as smooth as silk.”
Examples:
- The dress felt as smooth as silk.
- His words flowed as smooth as silk.
- The car engine ran as smooth as silk.
🌸 10. As Sweet as Honey
Meaning: Extremely sweet or kind.
Quote: “Her words were as sweet as honey.”
Examples:
- The dessert tasted as sweet as honey.
- His gesture was as sweet as honey.
- Their love was as sweet as honey.
🦁 11. As Brave as a Lion
Meaning: Very courageous.
Quote: “He faced his fears as brave as a lion.”
Examples:
- The firefighter was as brave as a lion.
- She stood as brave as a lion before the crowd.
- They fought as brave as lions for justice.
❄️ 12. As White as Snow
Meaning: Extremely pure or clean.
Quote: “Her dress was as white as snow.”
Examples:
- The sheets were as white as snow.
- The mountaintops shone as white as snow.
- His soul felt as white as snow.
🌳 13. As Strong as an Oak
Meaning: Very strong and enduring.
Quote: “His spirit was as strong as an oak.”
Examples:
- Their bond is as strong as an oak.
- She stood as strong as an oak through hard times.
- The structure was built as strong as an oak.
🌊 14. As Deep as the Ocean
Meaning: Very profound or emotional.
Quote: “Her love was as deep as the ocean.”
Examples:
- His thoughts ran as deep as the ocean.
- The mystery was as deep as the ocean.
- Their connection felt as deep as the ocean.
🦢 15. As Graceful as a Swan
Meaning: Extremely elegant.
Quote: “She moved across the stage as graceful as a swan.”
Examples:
- The dancer was as graceful as a swan.
- Her movements looked as graceful as a swan.
- The moment felt as graceful as a swan.
🐢 16. As Slow as a Turtle
Meaning: Very slow-moving.
Quote: “The old computer worked as slow as a turtle.”
Examples:
- The traffic moved as slow as a turtle.
- The process felt as slow as a turtle.
- He replied as slow as a turtle.
🌞 17. As Warm as Sunshine
Meaning: Extremely comforting or kind.
Quote: “Her hug felt as warm as sunshine.”
Examples:
- His smile was as warm as sunshine.
- The morning breeze was as warm as sunshine.
- Their welcome was as warm as sunshine.
🌧️ 18. As Sad as Rain
Meaning: Very sorrowful or melancholic.
Quote: “Her eyes looked as sad as rain.”
Examples:
- The music felt as sad as rain.
- His tone was as sad as rain.
- The goodbye was as sad as rain.
🌹 19. As Red as a Rose
Meaning: Extremely red or passionate.
Quote: “Her cheeks turned as red as a rose.”
Examples:
- The sunset was as red as a rose.
- The curtain glowed as red as a rose.
- His love burned as red as a rose.
🧠 20. As Sharp as a Knife
Meaning: Very clever or perceptive.
Quote: “Her mind was as sharp as a knife.”
Examples:
- His wit is as sharp as a knife.
- The remark cut as sharp as a knife.
- Her insight was as sharp as a knife.
🪶 21. As Soft as Cotton
Meaning: Extremely soft or tender.
Quote: “The baby’s skin was as soft as cotton.”
Examples:
- The pillow felt as soft as cotton.
- Her voice was as soft as cotton.
- The clouds looked as soft as cotton.
🕯️ 22. As Bright as a Star
Meaning: Very brilliant or outstanding.
Quote: “She sparkled as bright as a star on stage.”
Examples:
- His talent shines as bright as a star.
- The night sky glittered as bright as a star.
- The child’s eyes gleamed as bright as a star.
💪 23. As Tough as Steel
Meaning: Extremely strong or resilient.
Quote: “Her will was as tough as steel.”
Examples:
- The structure was as tough as steel.
- His determination felt as tough as steel.
- She’s as tough as steel inside.
🐍 24. As Sly as a Fox
Meaning: Very clever or cunning.
Quote: “He planned his move as sly as a fox.”
Examples:
- She smiled as sly as a fox.
- The negotiation was as sly as a fox’s trick.
- The thief escaped as sly as a fox.
🐦 25. As Free as a Bird
Meaning: Completely free and unrestrained.
Quote: “After graduation, she felt as free as a bird.”
Examples:
- The spirit soared as free as a bird.
- The child ran as free as a bird.
- Their love was as free as a bird.
⚖️ 26. As Steady as a Rock
Meaning: Extremely stable or dependable.
Quote: “He remained as steady as a rock during the storm.”
Examples:
- Her trust is as steady as a rock.
- The bridge stood as steady as a rock.
- His loyalty is as steady as a rock.
🐇 27. As Quick as a Rabbit
Meaning: Very fast-moving.
Quote: “He darted across the field as quick as a rabbit.”
Examples:
- Her reflexes were as quick as a rabbit.
- The animal jumped as quick as a rabbit.
- The child ran as quick as a rabbit.
💭 28. As Silent as the Grave
Meaning: Completely silent.
Quote: “The hall was as silent as the grave.”
Examples:
- The forest was as silent as the grave.
- After the truth, the room fell as silent as the grave.
- The night remained as silent as the grave.
🐘 29. As Big as an Elephant
Meaning: Extremely large or massive.
Quote: “The balloon was as big as an elephant.”
Examples:
- His appetite was as big as an elephant.
- The wave towered as big as an elephant.
- Their dreams were as big as an elephant.
🌈 30. As Colorful as a Rainbow
Meaning: Very vibrant or joyful.
Quote: “Her dress was as colorful as a rainbow.”
Examples:
- The festival looked as colorful as a rainbow.
- The painting gleamed as colorful as a rainbow.
- His imagination was as colorful as a rainbow.
🦉 31. As Wise as an Owl
Meaning: Extremely wise or thoughtful.
Quote: “Her advice was as wise as an owl’s call.”
Examples:
- He’s as wise as an owl in decision-making.
- The elder spoke as wise as an owl.
- Her words were as wise as an owl’s gaze.
🕸️ 32. As Fragile as Glass
Meaning: Very delicate or easily broken.
Quote: “Her trust was as fragile as glass.”
Examples:
- The vase was as fragile as glass.
- Their friendship felt as fragile as glass.
- His emotions were as fragile as glass.
💥 33. As Loud as Thunder
Meaning: Extremely loud or powerful.
Quote: “The applause was as loud as thunder.”
Examples:
- The explosion was as loud as thunder.
- His voice roared as loud as thunder.
- The drums beat as loud as thunder.
🌻 34. As Fresh as Morning Dew
Meaning: Very new or refreshing.
Quote: “Her ideas were as fresh as morning dew.”
Examples:
- The flowers smelled as fresh as morning dew.
- The air felt as fresh as morning dew.
- His optimism was as fresh as morning dew.
🦋 35. As Delicate as a Butterfly
Meaning: Very gentle or fragile.
Quote: “Her touch was as delicate as a butterfly.”
Examples:
- The artwork looked as delicate as a butterfly.
- His emotions fluttered as delicate as a butterfly.
- The moment felt as delicate as a butterfly.
🌸 Conclusion
Similes bring life, color, and rhythm to language. These 35 similes for “very” show how creative comparisons can replace plain words with emotion and imagination. From “as bright as the sun” to “as fresh as morning dew,” each phrase helps express feelings vividly and beautifully.
So next time you write, try sprinkling a few of these poetic gems into your sentences. Words can sparkle — you just need the right simile.
💫 Explore more similes about life, love, and nature on our site to keep your imagination blooming.
💬 FAQs
1. What are the best similes for “very”?
Some of the best include as bright as the sun, as cold as ice, and as fast as lightning — they vividly describe intensity.
2. How do you write a simile?
Use “like” or “as” to compare two things: for example, “She runs as fast as lightning.”
3. What’s the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile uses like or as for comparison, while a metaphor states one thing is another (e.g., “Time is a thief”).
4. How can similes improve creative writing?
They make descriptions vivid, emotional, and memorable — turning ordinary ideas into imagery that resonates.
5. Why are similes important in literature?
Similes deepen emotion, enhance imagery, and connect readers to the writer’s imagination.
“Sarah Moss is a creative writer who crafts vivid similes and imagery, helping readers explore emotions through expressive, poetic language.”
