35 Impactful Similes for Feeling Guilty

Feeling guilty is a natural emotion that everyone experiences at some point. Parents often notice it in children when they break rules, hurt someone’s feelings, or make mistakes. Just like people search for similes for sad to describe sorrow, many also look for similes for feeling guilty to capture the weight of remorse. Understanding guilt and helping children express it is important for emotional growth and healthy communication.

One effective way to convey guilt is through figurative expressions, such as similes. Similes compare feelings to everyday things, making emotions clear and relatable. For example, saying “I feel like a stone in my stomach” vividly describes the heaviness of guilt.

This article examines 35 similes for feeling guilty, illustrating how guilt can be conveyed through figurative language, imagery, and relatable examples. Parents, writers, and learners can use these similes to help talk about guilt, shame, remorse, and regret more effectively.

Whether you want to describe guilt in writing, conversations, or parenting moments, these similes make the emotion tangible, clear, and easy to understand.

Similes of Regret and Remorse

1. Like a stone in the stomach

• Meaning: Feeling heavy, worried, or uneasy inside.
• Examples:
  • “After the fight, guilt felt like a stone in her stomach.”
  • “He had a stone in his stomach when he remembered lying.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a lump in the throat”
  • “Like a weight on the chest”

2. Like a shadow that won’t leave

• Meaning: Feeling that follows you everywhere.
• Examples:
  • “Guilt was like a shadow that wouldn’t leave her.”
  • “He felt a shadow of regret wherever he went.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a dark cloud overhead”
  • “Like a weight on the shoulders”

For a different twist on figurative language, check out our spooky Halloween similes, perfect for adding a haunting vibe to your writing.

3. Like a weight on the chest

• Meaning: Feeling heavy and hard to breathe.
• Examples:
  • “Guilt pressed on his chest all morning.”
  • “She felt a weight on her chest after lying.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a burden on the heart”
  • “Like a millstone around the neck”

4. As guilty as a cat caught knocking over the vase

• Meaning: Feeling very guilty for doing something wrong.
• Examples:
  • He looked as guilty as a cat caught knocking over the vase when his mother saw the broken plate.
  • “She felt as guilty as a cat caught knocking over the vase after telling a lie to her friend.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • Like a thief caught red-handed
  • Like a student caught cheating

5. Like a cold hand on the heart

• Meaning: Feeling a sudden shock of guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Remembering her betrayal was like a cold hand on the heart.”
  • “He felt like a cold hand had touched his heart after lying.”
    
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a dagger to the heart”
  • “Like a chill running down the spine”

Similes of Internal Burden and Unease

6. Like carrying a heavy backpack

• Meaning: Feeling weighed down by guilt.
• Examples:
  • He carried guilt like a heavy backpack all day.”
  • “Her mistakes felt like a backpack she could not drop.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a chain around the ankle”
  • “Like a burden on the back”

7. Like walking through mud

• Meaning: Feeling slowed down or stuck by guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Every task felt like walking through mud.”
  • “She trudged through the day like walking through thick mud.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like dragging one’s feet”
  • “Like wading through treacle”

8. Like a storm cloud overhead

• Meaning: Feeling heavy and uneasy.
• Examples:
  • “Guilt hovered like a storm cloud above him.”
  • “She could not forget, like a storm cloud overhead.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a dark cloud on the horizon”
  • “Like a weight in the air”

9. As guilty as a child hiding a secret

• Meaning: Feeling nervous and guilty about keeping something hidden.
• Examples:
  • “He walked in as guilty as a child hiding a secret when the teacher asked about the missing homework.”
  • “She felt as guilty as a child hiding a secret after accidentally breaking her brother’s toy.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • Like someone caught in a lie
  • Like a prisoner with a secret

If you’re exploring other emotional expressions too, you can also check out our full list of similes for emotions, which cover sadness, anger, joy, and more.

10. Like a sinking ship

• Meaning: Feeling doomed or hopeless.
• Examples:
  • “He felt like a sinking ship after telling a lie.”
  • “Guilt pulled her down like a sinking ship.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a falling star”
  • “Like a house of cards collapsing”

Similes of Psychological Pain and Shame

11. As shameful as a boy caught cheating on a test

• Meaning: Feeling deep embarrassment and disgrace.
• Examples:
  • “He was as shameful as a boy caught cheating on a test when the teacher confronted him.”
  • “She felt as shameful as a boy caught cheating on a test after spilling paint on the new carpet.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • Like a person caught lying
  • Like someone embarrassed in front of a crowd

12. Like a maze with no exit

• Meaning: Feeling trapped in guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Her mind was like a maze with no exit.”
  • “He wandered through guilt like a maze he could not escape.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a rat in a cage”
  • “Like a hamster on a wheel”

13. Like a broken record

• Meaning: Feeling stuck thinking about mistakes.
• Examples:
  • “His guilt played like a broken record.”
  • “She kept replaying her mistake like a broken record.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a repeating alarm”
  • “Like a stuck needle on a vinyl”

14. Like a fire in the chest

• Meaning: As shameful as someone wearing muddy shoes in a clean house
• Examples:
  • “He looked as shameful as someone wearing muddy shoes in a clean house after tracking dirt on the floor.”
  • “She felt as ashamed as someone wearing muddy shoes in a clean house when her mistake was noticed.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • Like a clumsy person in a fancy room
    Like spilling coffee on a new shirt

15. Like a stone in the throat

• Meaning: Feeling unable to speak from guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Words stuck like a stone in his throat.”
  • “She could not speak, a stone in her throat blocking her.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a lump in the throat”
  • “Like a knot in the stomach”

Similes Emphasizing a Lack of Peace

16. As remorseful as a friend who broke a promise

• Meaning: Feeling deeply sorry for hurting someone.
• Examples:
  • “He sat as remorseful as a friend who broke a promise after forgetting her birthday.”
  • “She felt as remorseful as a friend who broke a promise when she accidentally revealed the secret.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • Like someone asking for forgiveness
  • Like a penitent sinner

Just like guilt, other emotions can also be hard to put into words. For instance, many people struggle to describe similes for loneliness, which often overlap with feelings of guilt and sadness.”

17. Like a clock ticking loudly

• Meaning: Feeling time pass with guilt growing.
• Examples:
  • “Every second felt like a loud clock ticking.”
  • “Her guilt ticked like a clock, never stopping.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a ticking time bomb”
  • “Like an incessant alarm”

18. Like a bird in a cage

• Meaning: Feeling trapped by guilt.
• Examples:
  • “He felt like a bird in a cage, unable to escape.”
  • “Her conscience kept her like a bird trapped in a cage.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a butterfly in a jar”
  • “Like a prisoner in the mind”

19. Like a candle burning at both ends

• Meaning: Feeling exhausted from guilt and stress.
• Examples:
  • “He was burning the candle at both ends, guilt wearing him down.”
  • “Her mistakes made her feel like a candle burning at both ends.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a leaf in the wind”
  • “Like a fading flame”

20. As regretful as a kid who forgot to feed the fish

• Meaning: Feeling bad for forgetting or missing something important.
• Examples:
  • “He felt as regretful as a kid who forgot to feed the fish after seeing them hungry.”
  • “She was as regretful as a kid who forgot to feed the fish when she missed the appointment.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • Like someone missing a bus
  • Like failing to write a thank-you note

21. Like walking on eggshells

• Meaning: Feeling nervous or careful because of guilt.
• Examples:
  • “After lying, he moved like walking on eggshells.”
  • “She felt like walking on eggshells around her friends.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like treading on thin ice”
  • “Like balancing on a tightrope”

22. Like a leaking faucet

• Meaning: Feeling guilt slowly and persistently.
• Examples:
  • “Her guilt dripped like a leaking faucet.”
  • “Every mistake trickled back like a leaking faucet.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a dripping tap”
  • “Like a slow rain”

23. Like carrying a chain

• Meaning: Feeling trapped or bound by guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Guilt clung to him like a heavy chain.”
  • “She moved through life like carrying a chain around her neck.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like shackles on the ankles”
  • “Like a yoke on the shoulders”

24. Like a dark stain

• Meaning: Feeling a mark of guilt that won’t go away.
• Examples:
  • “His mistake stayed like a dark stain.”
  • “She felt like a dark stain on her conscience.”
    
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like ink on paper”
  • “Like a shadow on the soul”

25. Like a splinter under the skin

• Meaning: Feeling small, constant discomfort from guilt.
• Examples:
  • “His lie stuck like a splinter under the skin.”
  • “She felt guilt like a splinter that wouldn’t go away.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like sand in the eye”
  • “Like a pebble in the shoe”

26. Like an alarm bell ringing

• Meaning: Feeling guilt that demands attention.
• Examples:
  • “The truth rang like an alarm bell in his mind.”
  • “Her conscience rang like an alarm bell all day.”
    
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a siren in the head”
  • “Like a bell tolling endlessly”

27. Like an itch that won’t stop

• Meaning: Feeling persistent guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Her mistake nagged her like an itch that wouldn’t stop.”
  • “Guilt felt like an itch he could not scratch.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a persistent mosquito”
  • “Like a nagging thought”

28. Like a rusted chain

• Meaning: Feeling old guilt that still weighs you down.
• Examples:
  • “He carried old mistakes like a rusted chain.”
  • “Her regret felt like a rusted chain around her.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like an anchor dragging behind”
  • “Like a locked cage”

29. Like walking through fire

• Meaning: Feeling painful guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Facing her mistake was like walking through fire.”
  • “He endured his guilt like walking through fire.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like treading on hot coals”
  • “Like enduring a storm”

30. Like a thorny path

• Meaning: Feeling a difficult, painful journey from guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Apologizing felt like walking a thorny path.”
  • “He moved through regret like a thorny path.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a rugged road”
  • “Like walking through brambles”

31. Like a dark tunnel

• Meaning: Feeling trapped with no light.
• Examples:
  • “Her guilt was like a dark tunnel, endless and lonely.”
  • “He wandered his mind like a dark tunnel.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a shadowed corridor”
  • “Like a cave with no opening”

32. Like a spider’s web

• Meaning: Feeling trapped in guilt.
• Examples:
  • “His lies trapped him like a spider’s web.”
  • “She felt tangled like a spider’s web of regret.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like quicksand”
  • “Like sticky sap”

33. Like ashes in the mouth

• Meaning: Feeling a bitter, unpleasant guilt.
• Examples:
  • “The betrayal left him tasting like ashes in the mouth.”
  • “Her mistakes felt like ashes in her mouth.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like bitter herbs”
  • “Like soot on the tongue”

34. Like a closed door

• Meaning: Feeling final or hopeless about guilt.
• Examples:
  • “His past felt like a closed door.”
  • “She was like a closed door, sealed with regret.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a locked chest”
  • “Like a shuttered window”

35. Like a wound that won’t heal

• Meaning: Feeling lasting pain from guilt.
• Examples:
  • “Her mistake was like a wound that wouldn’t heal.”
  • “He felt like a wound that kept hurting.”
• Other Ways to Say:
  • “Like a scar that never fades”
  • “Like an open cut”

Simile Practice Exercise

Match the simile with its meaning:

1. Like a stone in the stomach
2. Like walking on eggshells
3. Like a sinking ship
4. Like a dark stain
5. Like a thorny path
6. Like ashes in the mouth
7. Like a spider’s web
8. Like a fire in the chest
9. Like a maze with no exit
10. Like a restless sea

Answers:

1. Heavy, uncomfortable feeling
2. Feeling nervous or careful
3. Feeling doomed or hopeless
4. Persistent mark of guilt
5. Difficult, painful journey
6. Lingering unpleasant feeling
7. Feeling trapped
8. Intense burning shame
9. Trapped in guilt with no solution
10. Constant turmoil and unrest

Conclusion

Similes are a powerful way to describe feelings. They make emotions like guilt clear, vivid, and easy to understand. Using similes helps both parents and children recognize and talk about guilt in everyday life.

By practicing figurative expressions such as “like a stone in the stomach” or “like walking on eggshells,” you can make your writing, conversations, or stories more emotional and relatable.

Using guilt in sentences or storytelling helps express feelings naturally and clearly. Whether you are teaching children, writing stories, or reflecting on your own emotions, combining similes with clear expressions of guilt makes the emotion tangible, relatable, and easier to understand.

Start incorporating these similes for feeling guilty in your writing and daily conversations. They are fun, educational, and practical, helping everyone communicate regret, remorse, or shame effectively.