What type of figurative language compares one thing to a different thing without using 'like' or 'as'?

The correct answer is metaphor because it directly compares one thing to another without utilizing "like" or "as." This type of figurative language creates a more direct association between two different entities, suggesting that one thing embodies the qualities or characteristics of the other. For example, saying "Time is a thief" implies that time stealthily takes away moments from our lives, highlighting the elusive nature of time in a more profound way than a simile would.

Simile, on the other hand, does use "like" or "as" for comparison (e.g., "as brave as a lion"), while alliteration refers to the repetition of consonant sounds at the beginning of words, not comparisons. Hyperbole involves exaggerated statements not meant to be taken literally, such as "I'm so hungry I could eat a horse." Each of these forms serves a different purpose in language, but only metaphor establishes connections through direct comparison.