Crying is one of the most human responses to emotional overwhelm, and similes for crying help turn those tears into powerful imagery. If it’s a quiet stream or a dramatic flood, the right comparison can help readers feel every drop.
Take “as crying as a stormy sky”—this vivid simile paints a picture of someone overwhelmed, their emotions pouring out like thunderclouds in full release. Similes like this don’t just describe tears; they give them depth, movement, and mood.
In this post, you’ll discover expressive, original similes for crying, each with clear meanings, example sentences, and poetic alternatives. Let’s explore how language can mirror what tears leave behind.
As Crying as Simile Examples
Writers often use as crying as similes to vividly show emotional outpour. These similes for crying bring tears to life,whether they fall gently like rain or crash down like a storm.
As Crying as a Stormy Sky
Meaning:
This simile compares someone’s emotional state to a stormy sky, full of tears, turmoil, and emotional intensity.
Example Sentences:
- She sat by the window, as crying as a stormy sky, her tears falling in waves.
- His heart was breaking, and his face was as crying as a stormy sky—dark, wet, and full of emotion.
As Crying as a Baby Left Alone
Meaning:
Describes intense, raw, and uncontrollable crying—filled with helplessness and urgency, like a baby calling out for comfort.
Example Sentences:
- He broke down in the hallway, as crying as a baby left alone, each sob filled with panic and need.
- Her voice shook through the phone, as crying as a baby left alone, desperate for someone to answer.
As weepy as a wilted flower
Meaning:
This simile suggests tears that come from weakness or sadness, just like a flower wilting due to lack of care.
Example Sentences:
- She was as weepy as a wilted flower after hearing the sad story.
- His eyes were as weepy as a wilted flower, and his tears seemed to fall like raindrops.
Other Ways to Say:
- As fragile as a dying rose 🌹
- As fragile as a drooping lily 🌸
As tearful as a rainy window
Meaning:
This simile compares tears that run down one’s face to raindrops sliding down a window, indicating sadness and emotional release.
Example Sentences:
- His face was as tearful as a rainy window after his favorite pet passed away.
- She sat there, her face as tearful as a rainy window, the drops of emotion flowing freely.
Other Ways to Say:
- As full of tears as a flooded river 🌊
- As wet as a soaking rain 🌧️
As Crying as a Poet with a Torn Page
Meaning:
Describes expressive, artistic crying—deeply emotional, like someone who feels broken mid-creation or overwhelmed by unspoken words.
Example Sentences:
- She sat by her notebook, as crying as a poet with a torn page, unable to finish the verse through her tears.
- His voice cracked during the recital, as crying as a poet with a torn page, every syllable soaked in emotion.
As Crying as a Widow at a Funeral
Meaning:
Represents deep, mournful crying—grief that is raw, public, and filled with heartache.
Example Sentences:
- She collapsed into his arms, as crying as a widow at a funeral, her pain impossible to hide.
- His sobs echoed through the silence, as crying as a widow at a funeral, every tear a farewell.
As despondent as a withered tree
Meaning:
This simile suggests sadness so deep that it resembles a lifeless, bare tree, devoid of hope or energy.
Example Sentences:
- After hearing the bad news, she felt as despondent as a withered tree in winter.
- His soul was as despondent as a withered tree, stripped of all its leaves and vibrancy.
Other Ways to Say:
- As bleak as an autumn forest 🍂
- As empty as a barren field 🌾
As Crying as what?
Ever wondered how far a simile can stretch the feeling of tears? This similes for crying explores unique “as crying as” comparisons that turn raw emotion into vivid, memorable images.
As Crying as a broken heart
Meaning:
This simile directly connects the feeling of heartache with the image of a heart being physically shattered, symbolizing intense pain.
Example Sentences:
- She was as crying as a broken heart, unable to stop crying after her father’s passing.
- His soul was as crying as a broken heart, each tear an echo of his loss.
Other Ways to Say:
- As torn as a shredded letter 📜
- As painful as a cut to the soul 💔
As Crying as a thunderstorm
Meaning:
This simile represents intense emotional turmoil, like the unpredictable and violent nature of a thunderstorm.
Example Sentences:
- He was as crying as a thunderstorm when his plans were ruined at the last moment.
- She felt as crying as a thunderstorm, her emotions crackling like thunder with every passing minute.
Other Ways to Say:
- As disturbed as a tornado 🌪️
- As volatile as a volcanic eruption 🌋
As frail as a paper tear
Meaning:
This simile emphasizes the vulnerability and fragility of one’s emotions, as delicate as the tear in paper.
Example Sentences:
- He felt as frail as a paper tear when he had to leave his hometown.
- She stood there, as frail as a paper tear, the weight of her emotions threatening to undo her.
Other Ways to Say:
- As delicate as a spider’s web 🕸️
- As fragile as a soap bubble 🫧
As Crying as a fallen angel
Meaning:
This simile represents a person who is deeply troubled or devastated, as if they have lost their way.
Example Sentences:
- After the tragedy, she was as crying as a fallen angel, unsure how to move forward.
- His spirit was as crying as a fallen angel, unable to find redemption or peace.
Other Ways to Say:
- As shattered as a lost star ✨
- As lost as a wandering soul 👻
As helpless as a lost puppy
Meaning:
This simile conveys a feeling of vulnerability and confusion, similar to a puppy separated from its owner.
Example Sentences:
- She was as helpless as a lost puppy when she found herself alone in the unfamiliar city.
- His tears flowed, and he felt as helpless as a lost puppy, unsure of how to find his way back to peace.
Other Ways to Say:
- As vulnerable as a newborn lamb 🐑
- As small as a lone kitten 🐱
12. As hopeless as an abandoned ship
Meaning:
This simile suggests a sense of despair and abandonment, as though there is no escape from the situation.
Example Sentences:
- When she lost her job, she felt as hopeless as an abandoned ship drifting at sea.
- He stared at the wreckage, feeling as hopeless as an abandoned ship, lost to the tides of fate.
Other Ways to Say:
- As deserted as a forgotten island 🏝️
- As stranded as a castaway 🚢
As Crying as a Song with No Ending
Meaning: Crying tied to longing, unfinished feelings, or emotional incompletion.
Example Sentences:
- Her voice cracked, as crying as a song with no ending, full of ache and silence.
- He spoke her name as crying as a song with no ending, like something unfinished in his soul.
As melancholic as a fading sunset
Meaning:
This simile conveys the beauty and sadness of a sunset slowly fading away, symbolizing an inevitable ending.
Example Sentences:
- His eyes were as melancholic as a fading sunset, as if he knew something precious was slipping away.
- The evening sky was as melancholic as a fading sunset, each moment of beauty slipping into the darkness of night.
Other Ways to Say:
- As bittersweet as the dusk 🌇
- As fleeting as the twilight 🌅
Common Similes for Crying
Common similes for crying help describe emotional moments in a way readers instantly understand. From quiet tears to dramatic sobs, these phrases make the feeling more relatable and real.
As teary-eyed as a movie character
Meaning:
This simile compares someone’s crying to the exaggerated emotion seen in movie characters, often representing dramatic sadness.
Example Sentences:
- She was as teary-eyed as a movie character, her face a perfect picture of sorrow.
- His eyes were as teary-eyed as a movie character, every drop of emotion spilling over like a scene from a tragedy.
Other Ways to Say:
- As dramatic as a soap opera actress 🎬
- As emotional as a tear-jerking scene 🎥
As Crying as a Puppet with Cut Strings
Meaning:
Crying from helplessness or collapse—like breaking emotionally under pressure.
Example Sentences:
- He collapsed on the floor, as crying as a puppet with cut strings, unable to hold himself together.
- Her emotions spilled out, as crying as a puppet with cut strings, trembling and uncontrolled.
As Crying as a Mirror Fogged by Breath
Meaning:
Quiet, internal crying—present but unclear, like mist hiding reflection.
Example Sentences:
- She stood still, as crying as a mirror fogged by breath, her emotions blurred and unspoken.
- He turned away, as crying as a mirror fogged by breath, hiding what was inside.
As lonely as a single star in the sky
Meaning:
This simile highlights an intense feeling of isolation and loneliness, as if one is the only presence in an expansive, space.
Example Sentences:
- After the breakup, he felt as lonely as a single star in the sky, surrounded by darkness.
- Her tears fell, and she felt as lonely as a single star in the sky, no one else to share her sorrow.
Other Ways to Say:
- As isolated as a solitary moon 🌙
- As distant as a faraway comet 🌠
As broken as a shattered mirror
Meaning:
This simile describes a person feeling completely shattered, with no way to put themselves back together, much like a broken mirror.
Example Sentences:
- He was as broken as a shattered mirror, every piece of him reflecting his grief.
- Her heart was as broken as a shattered mirror, fractured and distorted beyond repair.
Other Ways to Say:
- As fractured as a cracked vase 🏺
- As ruined as a collapsed building 🏚️
As heavy as a mountain of sadness
Meaning:
This simile represents overwhelming grief or emotional burden, as if the weight of sadness is as heavy as a mountain.
Example Sentences:
- Her heart felt as heavy as a mountain of sadness, too much to bear.
- He walked through life with a heart as heavy as a mountain of sadness, each step an effort.
Other Ways to Say:
- As overwhelming as a tidal wave 🌊
- As suffocating as an avalanche 🏔️
Similes for Crying in Literature
Authors often use similes for crying to evoke deep emotion and visual imagery. These literary comparisons turn tears into powerful moments that stay with the reader.
As Crying as a Book with Water-Stained Pages
Meaning:
Crying linked to memory, storytelling, or emotion-soaked moments—like tears soaking into words.
Example Sentences:
- Her journal was as crying as a book with water-stained pages, every entry soaked with emotion.
- He held the letter as crying as a book with water-stained pages, too blurred to finish reading.
As tender as a bruise
Meaning:
This simile emphasizes the emotional pain of crying, likening it to the sensitivity and tenderness of a bruise on the body.
Example Sentences:
- Her words were as tender as a bruise, the pain still fresh and raw from the hurt she had endured.
- He clutched his chest, his heart as tender as a bruise, each beat reminding him of the sadness that lingered.
Other Ways to Say:
- As sore as a scraped knee 🦵
- As sensitive as a fresh wound 🩹
As Crying as a Cloud That Can’t Hold Back
Meaning:
Describes sudden, uncontrollable tears—like a sky that finally bursts into rain.
Example Sentences:
- She was as crying as a cloud that can’t hold back, her emotions finally breaking free.
- His face turned away, as crying as a cloud that can’t hold back, sobs pouring out.
As fragile as a delicate snowflake
Meaning:
This simile highlights how easily emotions can break or melt under stress, like a snowflake that shatters upon contact.
Example Sentences:
- She was as fragile as a delicate snowflake, her emotions ready to crumble at any moment.
- His soul was as fragile as a delicate snowflake, each tear melting away the remnants of his strength.
Other Ways to Say:
- As tender as a glass ornament 🎄
- As breakable as a china cup ☕
As Crying as Paint Running Down a Canvas
Meaning: Visual and artistic—a slow, expressive cry that reveals raw feeling and color.
Example Sentences:
- Her makeup streaked, as crying as paint running down a canvas, emotion turning into art.
- His expression blurred, as crying as paint running down a canvas, each tear a brushstroke of feeling.
Creative Similes for Crying
Creative similes for crying go beyond the ordinary, painting fresh and unexpected images of emotional release. These vivid comparisons help your writing stand out and make each tear feel poetic, visual, and unforgettable.
As unpredictable as a storm
Meaning:
This simile illustrates the emotional turbulence that can come with crying, likening it to a storm that cannot be controlled.
Example Sentences:
- Her emotions were as unpredictable as a storm, changing in an instant from joy to sorrow.
- His tears were as unpredictable as a storm, flooding his face with emotions he couldn’t contain.
Other Ways to Say:
- As chaotic as a hurricane 🌀
- As wild as a thunderstorm ⚡
As Crying as a Bird Left in the Rain
Meaning: Suggests vulnerability, abandonment, and helpless tears.
Example Sentences:
- She looked as crying as a bird left in the rain, small and soaked in sorrow.
- He curled up, as crying as a bird left in the rain, unprotected and exposed.
As fragile as a flower in a storm
Meaning:
This simile represents someone or something delicate that is easily overwhelmed by emotional challenges or stress, much like a fragile flower in a violent storm.
Example Sentences:
- She was as fragile as a flower in a storm, torn apart by the intensity of her emotions.
- His heart felt as fragile as a flower in a storm, its petals torn away with every blow of grief.
Other Ways to Say:
- As vulnerable as a sapling in the wind 🌳
- As delicate as a butterfly’s wing 🦋
As Crying as a Movie Scene You Can’t Forget
Meaning: Evokes nostalgic, cinematic tears—triggered by emotion or memory.
Example Sentences:
- He turned away, as crying as a movie scene you can’t forget, tears tied to old pain.
- She sobbed, as crying as a movie scene you can’t forget, completely lost in the moment.
As Crying as a Clock Ticking After Midnight
Meaning:
Describes quiet, lonely crying—subtle yet constant, often in the silence of night when emotions feel heaviest.
Example Sentences:
- She lay awake, as crying as a clock ticking after midnight, her tears steady and soft in the darkness.
- He sat in the quiet room, as crying as a clock ticking after midnight, each tear falling with time.
As Crying as a Sky Painted with Goodbye
Meaning:
Poetic and symbolic—tears tied to loss, farewells, or emotional closure.
Example Sentences:
- Her eyes shimmered, as crying as a sky painted with goodbye, every blink holding heartbreak.
- He was as crying as a sky painted with goodbye, watching her leave without a word.
As crushed as a fallen leaf
Meaning:
This simile emphasizes the feeling of being overwhelmed or defeated, similar to how a leaf gets crushed underfoot in autumn.
Example Sentences:
- His spirit felt as crushed as a fallen leaf, unable to rise after the devastating loss.
- Her heart was as crushed as a fallen leaf, each step she took leaving it more battered and bruised.
Other Ways to Say:
- As flattened as a broken petal 🌸
- As crushed as a dried flower 🌺
As vulnerable as a child without their blanket
Meaning:
This simile represents a deep sense of vulnerability and emotional rawness, akin to a child who has lost their source of comfort.
Example Sentences:
- She was as vulnerable as a child without their blanket, exposed and open to the cold.
- His heart was as vulnerable as a child without their blanket, naked before the world’s harshness.
Other Ways to Say:
- As exposed as a bird without feathers 🦅
- As unprotected as a kitten without its mother 🐱
As Crying as a Pen Without Ink
Meaning:
Represents silent, suppressed crying—when emotions are deep but can’t fully be expressed, like words stuck inside.
Example Sentences:
- He sat with the letter half-written, as crying as a pen without ink, unable to find the words through his tears.
- Her eyes were full, but no sound came—as crying as a pen without ink, quietly breaking inside.
Other Ways to Say:
As muted as an unwritten confession ✍️
As stuck as tears without a voice 🤐
Fill in the Blank Quiz
Instructions: Complete each sentence with the correct simile. Use context clues to guess which visual or emotional comparison fits best.
- Her eyes shimmered, as crying as a ______ in the rain.
- He broke down in public, as crying as a ______ left alone.
- She looked out the window, as crying as a ______ sky.
- His emotions spilled across the page, as crying as a ______ with a torn page.
- In the dead of night, she lay still, as crying as a ______ ticking after midnight.
- His sobs were relentless, as crying as a ______ that can’t hold back.
- She stood motionless, as crying as a ______ left open to the storm.
- His expression blurred, as crying as ______ running down a canvas.
- He whispered goodbye, as crying as a ______ at a funeral.
- She held the blank notebook, as crying as a ______ without ink.
Answer Key
- rose in the rain
- baby left alone
- stormy sky
- poet with a torn page
- clock ticking after midnight
- cloud that can’t hold back
- window left open to the storm
- paint running down a canvas
- widow at a funeral
- pen without ink
Conclusion
Crying is more than just an action—it’s a release, a message, a mirror of what’s felt inside. Through vivid similes, we give those emotions form and depth, turning silent tears or loud sobs into something readers can feel, see, and remember.
If it’s “as crying as a baby left alone” or “as crying as a clock ticking after midnight,” each comparison adds texture and truth to the emotional moment. Use these expressions in your writing to bring real emotion to life—one tearful image at a time.
These similes for crying don’t just describe tears—they reveal the heart behind them. Let them guide your storytelling when words alone aren’t enough.
