Tears flow down like tiny streams, and sometimes words just don’t do them justice. Have you ever felt so emotional that you couldn’t find the right way to describe it? That’s where similes for crying can bring your feelings to life.
In this article, we’ll explore vivid similes that capture the raw, messy beauty of shedding tears. These comparisons will paint pictures in your mind and help express those hard-to-explain emotions. Let’s dive in and find the perfect way to describe crying through similes!
Similes for Crying
1. Cried like a baby.
Meaning: Wept uncontrollably and loudly.
In a Sentence: She cried like a baby when she heard the news, unable to contain her grief.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbed like a child, Wept like an infant.
2. Tears fell like rain.
Meaning: Cried profusely.
In a Sentence: His tears fell like rain, soaking his cheeks.
Other Ways to Say: Tears streamed like rivers, Sobbed uncontrollably.
3. Cried as if her heart would break.
Meaning: Wept with deep emotional pain.
In a Sentence: She cried as if her heart would break, holding her chest tightly.
Other Ways to Say: Cried with heartbreak, Wept with sorrow.
4. Like a storm breaking loose.
Meaning: An outburst of loud and intense crying.
In a Sentence: His tears came like a storm breaking loose, powerful and unstoppable.
Other Ways to Say: Cried like thunder, Wept like a tempest.
5. Cried like a river.
Meaning: Cried steadily and heavily.
In a Sentence: The child cried like a river, her sobs filling the room.
Other Ways to Say: Tears flowed like a stream, Wept like a waterfall.
6. As if the floodgates had opened.
Meaning: Unleashed a torrent of tears.
In a Sentence: Her emotions burst as if the floodgates had opened, tears pouring down her face.
Other Ways to Say: Cried uncontrollably, Tears streamed down.
7. Like a cloud weeping rain.
Meaning: Gently but steadily crying.
In a Sentence: He cried like a cloud weeping rain, silent but unstoppable.
Other Ways to Say: Tears dripped like a drizzle, Cried softly.
8. Cried like a banshee.
Meaning: Wailed loudly and uncontrollably.
In a Sentence: She cried like a banshee, her sobs echoing through the house.
Other Ways to Say: Wailed like a spirit, Shrieked in grief.
9. Tears fell like shattered glass.
Meaning: Tears that reflected a deep, broken sadness.
In a Sentence: Her tears fell like shattered glass, each one reflecting her heartbreak.
Other Ways to Say: Tears sparkled with sorrow, Fell like broken pieces.
10. Cried like a wounded animal.
Meaning: Wept in pain and distress.
In a Sentence: He cried like a wounded animal, his sobs raw and aching.
Other Ways to Say: Wailed in pain, Wept with agony.
11. Like rain against a windowpane.
Meaning: Tears falling rhythmically and persistently.
In a Sentence: Her tears fell like rain against a windowpane, softly tapping in grief.
Other Ways to Say: Tears trickled gently, Wept quietly.
12. Cried as if the world had ended.
Meaning: Wept with a sense of overwhelming despair.
In a Sentence: He cried as if the world had ended, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbed with hopelessness, Cried with despair.
13. Like a candle melting away.
Meaning: Quiet, steady tears.
In a Sentence: Her sadness was like a candle melting away, slow and inevitable.
Other Ways to Say: Tears dripped slowly, Wept softly.
14. Cried like a symphony of sorrow.
Meaning: Tears accompanied by moans or sobs, layered with emotion.
In a Sentence: She cried like a symphony of sorrow, her sobs rising and falling like music.
Other Ways to Say: Cried in harmony of sadness, Sobbed in waves.
15. Like the tide pulling away from shore.
Meaning: Sadness and tears receding after a peak.
In a Sentence: His crying faded like the tide pulling away from shore, leaving silence behind.
Other Ways to Say: Tears ebbed, Sobbed until the silence.
16. Cried like a song without words.
Meaning: Silent but deeply emotional crying.
In a Sentence: She cried like a song without words, her tears telling stories her voice could not.
Other Ways to Say: Wept silently, Tears sang unspoken grief.
17. Like a leaf trembling in the wind.
Meaning: Shaky, fragile sobbing.
In a Sentence: His crying was like a leaf trembling in the wind, uncertain and delicate.
Other Ways to Say: Tears shook softly, Sobbed with tremors.
18. Cried like a sky pouring rain.
Meaning: Heavy and continuous weeping.
In a Sentence: Her tears fell like a sky pouring rain, without pause.
Other Ways to Say: Wept like a monsoon, Sobbed like a deluge.
19. Like a violin playing a mournful tune.
Meaning: Crying with a plaintive, melodic sound.
In a Sentence: He cried like a violin playing a mournful tune, his sobs rising and falling in rhythm.
Other Ways to Say: Wept musically, Sobbed with melody.
20. Cried like a broken-hearted dove.
Meaning: Wept softly and sorrowfully.
In a Sentence: She cried like a broken-hearted dove, her sobs gentle but full of pain.
Other Ways to Say: Wept like a cooing bird, Sobbed quietly.
21. Like a faucet that won’t turn off.
Meaning: Non-stop tears.
In a Sentence: His crying was like a faucet that won’t turn off, constant and unrelenting.
Other Ways to Say: Tears flowed endlessly, Sobbed on and on.
22. Cried like waves crashing on rocks.
Meaning: Forceful and emotional crying.
In a Sentence: Her sobs were like waves crashing on rocks, powerful and relentless.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbed with force, Wept like ocean waves.
23. Like a cracked mirror reflecting sorrow.
Meaning: Crying showing deep hurt and fragility.
In a Sentence: His crying was like a cracked mirror reflecting sorrow, each tear revealing a piece of his pain.
Other Ways to Say: Tears mirrored sadness, Sobbed with fractures.
24. Cried like a lone wolf howling.
Meaning: Wailing alone and mournfully.
In a Sentence: She cried like a lone wolf howling in the night, her sobs echoing in the silence.
Other Ways to Say: Wept alone, Sobbed in isolation.
25. Like a candle flickering in the dark.
Meaning: Fragile, flickering sobs.
In a Sentence: Her crying was like a candle flickering in the dark, faint but persistent.
Other Ways to Say: Tears wavered, Sobbed softly.
26. Cried like a thunderstorm.
Meaning: Loud, uncontrollable crying.
In a Sentence: His sobs were like a thunderstorm, rumbling through the quiet room.
Other Ways to Say: Wept loudly, Sobbed like booming clouds.
27. Like autumn leaves falling.
Meaning: Gradual and steady weeping.
In a Sentence: Her tears fell like autumn leaves, drifting down one by one.
Other Ways to Say: Wept softly, Sobbed with quiet grace.
28. Cried like the world was ending.
Meaning: Extreme despair and hopelessness.
In a Sentence: He cried like the world was ending, his sobs echoing into the night.
Other Ways to Say: Wept in agony, Sobbed with finality.
29. Like raindrops trailing down a window.
Meaning: Tears that quietly roll down the face.
In a Sentence: Her tears were like raindrops trailing down a window, silent and constant.
Other Ways to Say: Wept quietly, Sobbed softly.
30. Cried like a lost child.
Meaning: Heartbreaking and helpless sobs.
In a Sentence: He cried like a lost child, calling out for comfort.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbed with vulnerability, Wept in confusion.
31. Like ice melting into water.
Meaning: Slow, inevitable crying.
In a Sentence: Her sadness melted like ice into water, her tears finally flowing free.
Other Ways to Say: Wept gradually, Tears softened.
32. Cried like a bell tolling.
Meaning: Rhythmic, ringing sobs.
In a Sentence: His crying was like a bell tolling, deep and steady.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbed with resonance, Wept with measured sadness.
33. Like a harp string snapping.
Meaning: Sudden burst of tears.
In a Sentence: Her tears came like a harp string snapping, breaking suddenly and sharply.
Other Ways to Say: Wept unexpectedly, Sobbed with a sharp break.
34. Cried like whispers of the wind.
Meaning: Soft, nearly inaudible weeping.
In a Sentence: She cried like whispers of the wind, her sobs barely a sound.
Other Ways to Say: Sobbed quietly, Wept with hushes.
Exercise to Practice
- He cried like a ___________.
- Her tears fell like ___________.
- The sobs were like ___________.
- She cried as if ___________.
- His crying was like ___________.
- Tears flowed like ___________.
- The sadness was like ___________.
- The weeping was as ___________.
- The sound of her sobbing was like ___________.
- His heartbreak was as ___________.
Answers:
a baby, rain, a storm breaking loose, her heart would break, a river, a faucet that won’t turn off, a cracked mirror, a lone wolf howling, autumn leaves falling, ice melting into water.
Conclusion
Similes offer expressive ways to describe crying, making our language more evocative and emotionally rich. By comparing tears and sobs to natural phenomena and familiar images, we can better convey the depth of human emotion. Whether it’s tears falling like rain, cries echoing like a banshee, or quiet sobs like whispers of the wind, similes help us paint powerful pictures of sorrow in our words.
So next time you want to describe crying, remember to use similes to capture the essence of the emotion and touch your reader’s heart. Keep exploring the beauty of language and the stories it can tell.