What Is Metonymy? | Definition & Examples

Metonymy is a figure of speech in which a word is replaced with another word closely associated with the original concept, such as “love” with “heart.”

Metonymy is used to create vivid imagery, add layers of meaning to a text, and convey ideas in a concise way. It’s commonly used in literature, newspaper headlines, and everyday speech.

Metonymy examples
Swedish is my mother tongue.

The White House declined to comment.

Tom’s favorite dish is mac and cheese.

They had a Monet hanging on their wall, and they didn’t know.

The use of metonymy is common in literature and in everyday conversations, but it should be avoided in academic writing or professional communication.

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What Is a Trope? | Definition & Examples

In rhetoric, a trope is a word or phrase that implies something different to its ordinary meaning. Instead of its literal meaning, a trope generates a figurative meaning. This is usually done to add flair to written or spoken language.

Trope example
“The web of our life is of a mingled yarn, good and ill together.”

In this quote from All’s Well that Ends Well, Shakespeare does not literally mean that life is a web. Instead, he uses a trope called a metaphor to suggest that life resembles a web: it is complicated and the good and the bad are entangled.

Tropes are common in literature, but also in everyday speech, advertising, and politics. If you want to explore creative writing, use QuillBot to quickly and easily paraphrase online.

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What Is an Extended Metaphor? | Definition & Examples

An extended metaphor is a literary device in which a metaphor continues for several lines or paragraphs. Just like a simple metaphor, it makes a comparison between two things or ideas. However, it is not limited to one sentence.

Extended metaphor example
“No man is an Island, entire of itself; every man is a piece of the continent, a part of the main.”

In these lines from Meditation XVII, John Donne uses an extended metaphor: he compares individual people to islands and society or humanity to a continent. By doing so, he conveys the idea that no one exists in isolation and that we are all interconnected because we are part of mankind.

Extended metaphors are common in poetry, but they are also used in prose.

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What Is a Malapropism? | Definition & Examples

A malapropism occurs when a word is accidentally replaced with a similar-sounding word (e.g., “prosperous” and “preposterous”).

This often results in a nonsensical or humorous statement. In literature and comedy, writers sometimes deliberately use malapropisms to inject humor or add color into their work.

Malapropism examples
He was a man of great statue (stature).

She hurried to the doctor to get the anecdote (antidote).

My new winter jacket has really good installation (insulation).

Malapropisms do not only occur in fiction. They also occur in everyday speech.

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What Is Alliteration? | Definition, Meaning & Examples

Alliteration is the repetition of initial consonant sounds in two or more nearby words, such as “gentle giant” or “paper plane.” Alliteration gives an air of musicality to our words and makes them more memorable.

Alliteration examples
Tongue twisters typically involve alliteration:

  • A big black bug bit a big black bear.
  • Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled peppers.
  • A flea and a fly flew up in a flue. Said the flea, “Let us fly!” Said the fly, “Let us flee!” So they flew through a flaw in the flue.

Alliteration is often found in poetry and prose, as well as in brand names and products.

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What Is Onomatopoeia? | Definition & Examples

Onomatopoeia is creating or using words that imitate the sound of the thing they describe. This can involve animal calls (“meow” for a cat vocalization), machine noises (“vroom” for an engine sound), or descriptions of actions (“pow” for a blow).

Onomatopoeia is usually an uncountable noun, but onomatopoeic words are sometimes called onomatopoeias.

Onomatopoeia examples
Set your smartphone to airplane mode so it does not beep during the movie.

The old door creaked open.

The sound of the horse’s neigh echoed through the night.

The heavy book landed on the table with a thud.

Onomatopoeia is common in everyday conversations, advertising slogans, and literature.

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What Is Situational Irony? | Definition & Examples

Situational irony occurs when the actual outcome of a situation is starkly different from what was expected, creating a surprising twist.

Situational irony example
In The Wizard of Oz, Dorothy and her friends seek the Wizard to grant their wishes, believing he can magically give a brain to the Scarecrow, a heart to the Tin Man, courage to the Cowardly Lion, and a way home to Dorothy.

Ironically, Dorothy and her friends discover that the Wizard is an ordinary man, and they have always possessed the traits and abilities they were seeking.

Situational irony can amplify effects such as humor, tragedy, and satire. It’s an important plot device in many genres of literature, film, and TV.

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What Is a Pun? | Definition, Types & Examples

A pun is a literary device that relies on wordplay to make audience members or readers laugh. Puns are typically based on words that sound similar but have different meanings (homonyms), such as “too tired” and “two-tired.”

Pun examples
Denial ain’t just a river in Egypt.

I used to be a banker, but I lost interest.

I wondered why the ball was getting bigger. Then it hit me!

Puns are a staple of comedy, but you may also encounter them in literary works, like theatrical plays, novels, and poems.

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What Does Portmanteau Mean? | Definition & Examples

A portmanteau is a word created by combining two other words. Usually, the spellings and meanings of two words are blended into a new one, like “brunch” (breakfast + lunch) or “motel” (motor + hotel). Portmanteau words help us describe new phenomena or concepts.

Portmanteau

Portmanteau examples
I decided to invite my friends over for a chillaxing evening. [chill + relax]
Sorry for snapping at you before. I was hangry. [hungry + angry]

This year we opted for a weekend of glamping. [glamorous + camping]

Sporks allow you to scoop and stab with a single utensil. [spoon + fork]

Portmanteaus are commonly used in everyday language, social media, advertising, and literary works.

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What Is a Palindrome? | Meaning, Definition & Examples

A palindrome is a word, number, or phrase that reads the same backward and forward, such as “civic” or “2002.” Palindromes can appear in names, places, and even unintentionally in everyday language. They are also used in word games and puzzles.

Palindrome example
The longest one-word palindrome in English is considered to be the word “tattarrattat,” coined by James Joyce in Ulysses to mean “a knock”:

“I was just beginning to yawn with nerves thinking he was trying to make a fool of me when I knew his tattarrattat at the door.”

“Tattarrattat” is also an example of onomatopoeia.

Palindromes add a playful element to language by encouraging creativity and wordplay.

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