Answer – Though both draw comparisons, in similes it is done using words such as ‘like’, ‘as’, and ‘than’, while in metaphors it is implied.
Explanation:
Metaphors and similes are figures of speech which are used to make writing evocative, descriptive and engaging. They do this by comparing their subjects with other things that the reader is likely to be familiar with. The difference between the two is the manner in which the comparison is constructed.
Similes use words such as ‘like’ and ‘as’ to indicate the comparison. For instance,
She was as cool as a cucumber.
In metaphors, however, the comparison is implied. No comparative words are used; instead the subject is equated to the thing it is being compared with.
All the world’s a stage;
Shakespeare is calling the world a stage, but it is a comparison and not to be taken literally. The effect achieved is deeper than if the comparison had been done overtly. The effect is greater than, for instance, the line had been
The world is like a stage. (simile)
