The English language is rich with similes—comparisons that help paint a clearer picture of emotions and experiences.
When it comes to describing hurt, whether emotional or physical, similes can make our language more expressive and impactful.
Instead of simply saying, “I feel hurt,” using similes adds depth and relatability.
This article explores 20+ similes for hurt, categorized into emotional and physical pain. Each simile includes explanations, contexts where it fits best, and examples.
Whether you’re writing, speaking, or texting, these comparisons will help you communicate with nuance.
Similes for Emotional Hurt
Emotional pain often feels just as intense as physical pain, and similes help us articulate those feelings vividly. Here are some of the most effective comparisons:
1. Like a knife to the heart
- Meaning: A sharp, sudden emotional pain, usually caused by betrayal or harsh words.
- Example: Hearing her say she never loved me was like a knife to the heart.
2. Like salt in a wound
- Meaning: Making an already painful situation worse.
- Example: Forgetting my birthday was bad enough, but pretending it didn’t matter was like salt in a wound.
3. Like being caught in a storm without shelter
- Meaning: Feeling vulnerable and overwhelmed by emotional pain.
- Example: After losing my job and breaking up in the same week, I felt like I was caught in a storm without shelter.
4. Like a mirror shattering
- Meaning: A deep emotional break, often tied to a loss of trust or identity.
- Example: When she lied to me, our friendship felt like a mirror shattering—impossible to put back together.
5. Like drowning in an ocean of sorrow
- Meaning: A deep, overwhelming sadness that feels impossible to escape.
- Example: After my grandmother passed away, I felt like I was drowning in an ocean of sorrow.
6. Like an open wound exposed to the wind
- Meaning: A persistent, raw pain that won’t heal easily.
- Example: Every time I see my ex with someone new, it feels like an open wound exposed to the wind.
7. Like a heavy stone on my chest
- Meaning: A deep emotional burden that weighs a person down.
- Example: The guilt of not saying goodbye to my father before he passed feels like a heavy stone on my chest.
8. Like a bird with broken wings
- Meaning: Feeling helpless or unable to move forward due to emotional pain.
- Example: After failing the exam, I felt like a bird with broken wings—unable to fly toward my dreams.
9. Like whispers of regret echoing in my mind
- Meaning: The lingering pain of past mistakes.
- Example: I keep replaying what I should have said, like whispers of regret echoing in my mind.
10. Like a candle flickering in the wind
- Meaning: A fragile emotional state, easily shaken by more distress.
- Example: Since my best friend moved away, my happiness feels like a candle flickering in the wind.
Similes for Physical Hurt
Physical pain can range from mild discomfort to excruciating agony, and these similes help convey the intensity of the experience.
11. Like walking on broken glass
- Meaning: Sharp, stinging pain that is difficult to endure.
- Example: Every step after my ankle injury felt like walking on broken glass.
12. Like a sledgehammer to the head
- Meaning: A sudden, intense pain, often used for headaches or impact injuries.
- Example: This migraine feels like a sledgehammer to the head.
13. Like fire licking at my skin
- Meaning: A burning pain, often used for rashes, burns, or nerve pain.
- Example: The sunburn on my shoulders stings like fire licking at my skin.
14. Like a thousand needles piercing me
- Meaning: A sharp, stabbing pain, often used for nerve-related discomfort.
- Example: When my foot fell asleep, it tingled like a thousand needles piercing me.
15. Like a vice tightening around my ribs
- Meaning: A constricting, suffocating pain.
- Example: Every time I breathe in, the chest pain feels like a vice tightening around my ribs.
16. Like being crushed under a boulder
- Meaning: A deep, heavy pain that feels unbearable.
- Example: The weight of exhaustion after the surgery was like being crushed under a boulder.
17. Like an electric shock jolting through me
- Meaning: Sudden, sharp, and intense pain.
- Example: Touching the hot stove sent a pain through my hand like an electric shock jolting through me.
18. Like my muscles are tearing apart
- Meaning: Intense muscle pain, often from overuse or injury.
- Example: After my first marathon, my legs felt like my muscles were tearing apart.
19. Like a storm raging inside my body
- Meaning: Intense internal pain or illness.
- Example: The flu hit me so hard it felt like a storm raging inside my body.
20. Like being stabbed repeatedly with tiny daggers
- Meaning: Sharp, persistent pain.
- Example: The stomach cramps were unbearable—like being stabbed repeatedly with tiny daggers.
9 Texting Examples Using Similes for Hurt
When texting about pain, using similes can make your message more expressive. Here are some examples for different scenarios:
1️⃣ “Ugh, this headache is like a sledgehammer to the head. I can’t focus on anything!”
2️⃣ “Waking up this morning felt like walking on broken glass. My whole body aches!”
3️⃣ “Seeing him with someone new was like a knife to the heart. 💔”
4️⃣ “I miss my dog so much. It’s like drowning in an ocean of sorrow.”
5️⃣ “This flu is hitting me hard—feels like a storm raging inside my body. 🤒”
6️⃣ “Every time I see our old pictures, it’s like salt in a wound. 😞”
7️⃣ “That workout destroyed me! My legs feel like my muscles are tearing apart.”
8️⃣ “Her words cut deep, like an open wound exposed to the wind.”
9️⃣ “This sunburn is brutal. My skin feels like fire licking at it!”
Conclusion
Using similes to describe hurt makes language more vivid and relatable. Whether you’re expressing emotional pain like a knife to the heart or physical pain like walking on broken glass, these comparisons help communicate feelings effectively.
Next time you’re struggling to put pain into words, try one of these similes to add depth and emotion to your message.
