List of Animal Similes

Author:
MM Del Rosario
Updated:
Nov 13, 2023 2:55 AM EST

Read on to discover 53 animal similes!
Amoghavarsha, CC BY-SA 4.0 DEED | Wikimedia Commons

What Is a Simile?

Although many of us learn about similes way back in grade school, most of us forget their definitions along with a huge swath of other information we picked up during early education. So, let's refresh our memories before we dive into our big list of animal similies.

Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines "simile" as "a figure of speech comparing two unlike things that is often introduced by like or as." It is important to draw attention to the idea that similes compare unlike things, which makes them different from simple, everyday comparisons such as "he looks like you" or "you look nice." For example, you could use the following simile to describe a man with a large beer belly: "his stomach looks like a 100-pound ostrich egg."

The simile is one part of figurative language and is thus often employed in literary writing. For instance, William Shakespeare used a seemingly endless list of similes in his plays and poems. Here are a few of them:

"Behold mine arm / Is like a blasted sapling, withered up." – Richard III
"Bewitching like the wanton mermaid’s song." – Sonnet 119
"Bitter to me as death." – Cymbeline
"Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny." – Hamlet
"Look like th' innocent flower, / But be the serpent under ’t." – Macbeth

Now that we have a better general idea of what a simile is, let's take a dive into our animal similes!

Animal Similies

Using animal similes can add great color to the English language. Speakers and writers use them to highlight details or feature an idea; it is a brilliant way to add character to any description you might be trying to vivify.

When using animal similes, remember that some animal similes can come off as an insult, while some have an uplifting character. It is a very powerful descriptive tool that writers, poets, orators, and even you can use in your writing.

In the following list, we will explore 53 animal similies that are sure to get your creative juices flowing!

As busy as a bee
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As free as a bird
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Animal Similes #1–15

As angry as a hornet
As bald as a coot
As blind as a bat
As brave as a lion
As busy as a bee
As crazy as a loon
As dead as the dodo
As drunk as a skunk
As eager as a beaver
As free as a bird
As fierce as a tiger
As graceful as a gazelle
As gentle as a lamb
As happy as a lark
As hairy as a gorilla

As brave as a lion
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Animal Similes #16–30

As gentle as a lamb
As lame as a duck
As meek as a lamb
As meek as a dove
As naked as a jaybird
As mischievous as a monkey
As playful as a kitten
As poor as a church mouse
As proud as a peacock
As sly as a fox
As strong as a bull
As tall as a giraffe
As timid as a rabbit
As weak as a kitten
As wise as an owl

As tall as a giraffe
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Animal Similes #31–38

As hungry as a horse
As quiet as a mouse
As sick as a dog
As slippery as an eel
As slow as a snail
As strong as an ox
As stubborn as a mule
As sleepy as a koala

Animal Similes #39–53

As tenacious as a bulldog
As wet as a dog's nose
As tender as a chicken
As cute as a kitten
As tiny as an ant
As snug as a bug in a rug
As loose as a goose
As mad as a March hare
As naked as a Jay bird
As slow as a tortoise
As noisy as crickets
As sweaty as a pig
As big as a whale
As happy as a clam
As clumsy as a bear

As silly as a goose
Thegreenj, CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED | Wikimedia Commons

As noisy as crickets
Sean Wallace, CC BY-SA 3.0 DEED | Wikimedia Commons

Animal Similes FAQ

Here are some of the most commonly sought animal similes and some variations that can fit each.

As angry as which animal?

"As angry as a hornet" is one of the most common similes that fits this mold, though other options might include "as angry as a wasp" and as angry as a bull."

As meek as which animal?

"As meek as a lamb" and "as meek as a dove" are some of the most common similes pertaining to meekness, though another option that works is "as meek as a manatee."

As kind as which animal?

"As kind as a horse" is somewhat common simile, though another, much more unique (and less utilized) is "as kind as a capybara."

As mean as which animal?

"As mean as a snake" is probably the most widely used animal simile pertaining to meanness, though "as mean as a black mamba" and "as mean as a wild boar" would both get your point across as well.

As silly as which animal?

Though "as silly as a goose" is a very common animal simile, you could alternatively use "as silly as a monkey" and "as a silly as a sheep" to great effect.

As mean as a black mamba
TimVickers | Wikimedia Commons

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and is not meant to substitute for formal and individualized advice from a qualified professional.

Please feel free to add more animal similes on the comment box. Thanks....

Pony on March 05, 2020:

The animals were cute

Olamide sooraafgem on February 26, 2020:

As foolish as a calf