Have you ever read a line that made you feel the sadness, not just understand it? That’s the power of similes. In simple terms, a simile compares one thing to another using like or as. It helps readers see, hear, or feel an emotion more clearly.
In creative writing, strong similes turn plain sentences into vivid pictures. Instead of saying “she cried,” you might say “she cried like rain pounding a tin roof.” That one small change adds sound, feeling, and movement.
Understanding the meaning of similes helps beginners write with more confidence. You start to notice them in books, songs, and stories. You also learn how to use similes in writing to show emotion instead of telling it.
In this guide, let’s explore a powerful metaphor for crying through clear examples of similes, real simile sentences, and simple practice. By the end, you’ll know how to spot strong similes and create your own with ease.
20 Strong Similes for Crying (With Meaning and Examples)
- Crying like rain on a window
Meaning: Steady, quiet sadness
Explanation: Soft but constant tears
Examples:
- She cried like rain on a window, slow and endless.
- He sat alone, crying like rain on a window.
- Crying like a broken faucet
Meaning: Tears that won’t stop
Explanation: Shows loss of control
Examples:
- She cried like a broken faucet after the news.
- The child cried like a broken faucet all night.
- Crying like a wounded animal
Meaning: Deep pain or fear
Explanation: Raw and emotional
Examples:
- He cried like a wounded animal in the dark.
- Her voice shook, crying like a wounded animal.
- Crying like thunder after lightning
Meaning: Sudden emotional release
Explanation: Big emotions after shock
Examples:
- She cried like thunder after lightning struck her heart.
- He stood still, then cried like thunder after lightning.
- Crying like a baby left alone
Meaning: Helpless sadness
Explanation: Pure need and pain
Examples:
- She cried like a baby left alone.
- His tears came fast, crying like a baby left alone.
- Crying like waves crashing
Meaning: Loud and uncontrollable
Explanation: Comes in strong bursts
Examples:
- She cried like waves crashing on rocks.
- He cried like waves crashing during the call.
- Crying like fog rolling in
Meaning: Quiet, heavy sadness
Explanation: Slow and overwhelming
Examples:
- She cried like fog rolling in.
- His sadness spread, crying like fog rolling in.
- Crying like leaves falling
Meaning: Gentle, tired sorrow
Explanation: Soft and natural
Examples:
- She cried like leaves falling in autumn.
- He sighed, crying like leaves falling.
- Crying like a storm trapped inside
Meaning: Hidden pain bursting out
Explanation: Inner struggle
Examples:
- She cried like a storm trapped inside.
- He finally broke, crying like a storm trapped inside.
- Crying like glass breaking
Meaning: Sharp emotional pain
Explanation: Sudden and painful
Examples:
- She cried like glass breaking in silence.
- His sobs sounded like glass breaking.
- Crying like a song without words
Meaning: Sadness beyond speech
Explanation: Emotion replaces language
Examples:
- She cried like a song without words.
- He listened, crying like a song without words.
- Crying like a child in the rain
Meaning: Lonely sadness
Explanation: Alone and exposed
Examples:
- She cried like a child in the rain.
- He stood there, crying like a child in the rain.
- Crying like the sky falling apart
Meaning: Overwhelming grief
Explanation: World feels broken
Examples:
- She cried like the sky falling apart.
- He felt lost, crying like the sky falling apart.
- Crying like a kettle boiling over
Meaning: Built-up emotion released
Explanation: Pressure finally breaks
Examples:
- She cried like a kettle boiling over.
- He snapped, crying like a kettle boiling over.
- Crying like shadows growing long
Meaning: Slow sadness
Explanation: Quiet and deep
Examples:
- She cried like shadows growing long.
- Evening came, crying like shadows growing long.
- Crying like a lost puppy
Meaning: Fear and need
Explanation: Small and helpless
Examples:
- She cried like a lost puppy.
- He curled up, crying like a lost puppy.
- Crying like wind through cracks
Meaning: Soft but painful
Explanation: Sadness slips out
Examples:
- She cried like wind through cracks.
- His voice trembled, crying like wind through cracks.
- Crying like ashes falling
Meaning: Emotional emptiness
Explanation: After loss
Examples:
- She cried like ashes falling.
- He whispered, crying like ashes falling.
- Crying like a dam breaking
Meaning: Total emotional release
Explanation: Held-in feelings explode
Examples:
- She cried like a dam breaking.
- He collapsed, crying like a dam breaking.
- Crying like night swallowing light
Meaning: Deep despair
Explanation: Hope fading
Examples:
- She cried like night swallowing light.
- His tears fell, crying like night swallowing light.
Practice Section: Try These Simile Exercises
- Fill in the blank: She cried like breaking.
Answer: glass
Explanation: Glass shows sharp pain. - Which simile shows quiet sadness?
Answer: crying like fog rolling in
Explanation: Fog is slow and heavy. - Complete: He cried like a boiling over.
Answer: kettle
Explanation: Pressure builds then spills. - Is “crying like waves crashing” loud or soft?
Answer: Loud
Explanation: Waves are strong and noisy. - Choose the simile for helplessness.
Answer: crying like a lost puppy
Explanation: Puppies need care. - Fill in: She cried like rain on a.
Answer: window
Explanation: Rain shows steady tears. - Which simile shows sudden release?
Answer: crying like a dam breaking
Explanation: Dams hold then burst. - Complete: Crying like night swallowing.
Answer: light
Explanation: Light means hope. - Is “crying like leaves falling” fast or slow?
Answer: Slow
Explanation: Leaves drift gently. - Write your own simile for crying.
Sample answer: crying like candles melting
Explanation: Shows slow, quiet sadness.
Conclusion
Strong similes help writing feel real. They turn simple feelings into clear pictures. When you understand the meaning of similes, you learn how to show emotion instead of just naming it.
Using a strong metaphor for crying makes readers feel the sadness, fear, or relief in your words. As you saw in these examples of similes, the best ones use everyday images. Rain, storms, glass, and shadows all help emotions come alive.
Now it’s your turn. Look at your writing and ask, “Can I show this feeling better?” Try one new simile today. With practice, creative writing similes will start to feel natura and powerful.
