Sometimes, people don’t have a home. They may sleep in shelters, cars, or outside. This is called being homeless. It can happen to kids, parents, or older people. Homelessness is hard and can make people feel sad or worried. It can also be lonely when someone doesn’t have a safe place to sleep or eat.
To talk about homelessness in a simple way, we can use similes. A simile is when you compare one thing to something else using the words “like” or “as.” These comparisons help us understand feelings or situations better. In this article, we will learn 40 similes that describe what homelessness might feel like. These will help you understand what others may be going through and make it easier to talk about with kindness.
Similes for Homelessness
1. Like a boat without a sail
Meaning: Feeling lost or without direction.
Example: After losing their home, they felt like a boat without a sail. / She wandered through the park like a boat without a sail.
Put Differently: They didn’t know where to go. / She felt unsure of what to do.
2. As cold as a stone
Meaning: Feeling very cold or alone.
Example: Sleeping outside was as cold as a stone. / His hands were as cold as a stone in the winter wind.
Put Differently: It was freezing. / The cold made him feel numb.
3. Like a bird without a nest
Meaning: Not having a safe place to stay.
Example: He felt like a bird without a nest after his house burned down. / She slept on the bench like a bird without a nest.
Put Differently: He had no home. / She had nowhere warm to sleep.
4. As empty as a cupboard
Meaning: Having nothing, especially no food.
Example: Their fridge was as empty as a cupboard. / His bag was as empty as a cupboard after dinner time.
Put Differently: There was no food left. / He had nothing to eat.
5. Like a shadow in the night
Meaning: Feeling unseen or unnoticed.
Example: She walked through the city like a shadow in the night. / No one spoke to him, like he was a shadow in the night.
Put Differently: No one noticed her. / He felt invisible.
6. As quiet as falling snow
Meaning: Staying silent, often from sadness.
Example: He sat alone, as quiet as falling snow. / She ate her sandwich as quiet as falling snow.
Put Differently: He didn’t talk. / She said nothing at all.
7. Like a backpack full of rocks
Meaning: Feeling like life is too heavy or hard.
Example: Carrying worries was like a backpack full of rocks. / Her day felt like carrying a backpack full of rocks.
Put Differently: Life felt very hard. / Everything felt heavy and tough.
8. As hungry as a bear after winter
Meaning: Very hungry.
Example: He was as hungry as a bear after winter when he found dinner. / She ate her snack as hungry as a bear after winter.
Put Differently: He hadn’t eaten all day. / She needed food badly.
9. Like a tree in a storm
Meaning: Trying to stay strong during hard times.
Example: He stood like a tree in a storm when the rain hit. / She stayed calm like a tree in a storm.
Put Differently: He tried to be brave. / She didn’t give up.
10. As tired as a runner at the finish line
Meaning: Very tired or worn out.
Example: She was as tired as a runner at the finish line after walking all day. / He looked as tired as a runner at the finish line.
Put Differently: She needed rest. / He was very tired.
11. Like a suitcase with no handle
Meaning: Feeling like life is hard to carry.
Example: Life felt like a suitcase with no handle. / The problem was like a suitcase with no handle hard to hold on to.
Put Differently: Life was difficult. / The problem was hard to deal with.
12. As lost as a balloon in the wind
Meaning: Feeling confused or without a path.
Example: He felt as lost as a balloon in the wind. / She walked as lost as a balloon in the wind.
Put Differently: He didn’t know where to go. / She was confused and unsure.
13. Like shoes with holes
Meaning: Lacking what you need.
Example: His coat was like shoes with holes too old and worn. / She felt like shoes with holes when it rained.
Put Differently: He didn’t have proper clothes. / She didn’t have what she needed.
14. As cold as a metal bench
Meaning: Feeling very cold and uncomfortable.
Example: Sleeping outside was as cold as a metal bench. / The park felt as cold as a metal bench at night.
Put Differently: It was very uncomfortable and cold.
15. Like a cloud with no rain
Meaning: Feeling empty or useless.
Example: He felt like a cloud with no rain drifting, with nothing to give. / Her hopes felt like a cloud with no rain.
Put Differently: He felt empty. / She had no strength left.
16. As rough as sleeping on gravel
Meaning: A hard or painful experience.
Example: The night was as rough as sleeping on gravel. / Moving again felt as rough as sleeping on gravel.
Put Differently: It hurt and was hard. / It was not easy.
17. Like a window with no curtain
Meaning: Having no privacy.
Example: Living in a shelter felt like a window with no curtain. / He felt like a window with no curtain, always watched.
Put Differently: He had no privacy or space.
18. As lonely as a single sock
Meaning: Feeling very alone.
Example: She sat as lonely as a single sock left behind. / He felt as lonely as a single sock on the floor.
Put Differently: She was all by herself. / He had no one.
19. Like a candle in the wind
Meaning: Feeling weak or unprotected.
Example: He felt like a candle in the wind during the storm. / Her hope was like a candle in the wind.
Put Differently: He was barely hanging on. / She could lose her hope easily.
20. As heavy as a heart full of worry
Meaning: Carrying a lot of sadness.
Example: Her chest felt as heavy as a heart full of worry. / He sighed, as heavy as a heart full of worry.
Put Differently: She was very sad. / He felt full of stress.
21. Like a mailbox with no letters
Meaning: Feeling forgotten.
Example: He felt like a mailbox with no letters. / She waited like a mailbox with no letters.
Put Differently: No one reached out. / She felt ignored.
22. As thin as a pancake
Meaning: Being very weak or lacking food.
Example: He looked as thin as a pancake. / She became as thin as a pancake from not eating much.
Put Differently: He was not healthy. / She was too skinny.
23. Like a light bulb with no switch
Meaning: Wanting to help but feeling stuck.
Example: She felt like a light bulb with no switch. / He was like a light bulb with no switch bright but unused.
Put Differently: She had no way to do anything. / He couldn’t act even if he wanted to.
24. As cold as forgotten soup
Meaning: Feeling unwanted or unloved.
Example: She sat alone, as cold as forgotten soup. / He was as cold as forgotten soup on the table.
Put Differently: She felt ignored. / He felt unloved.
25. Like a puzzle with missing pieces
Meaning: Not feeling whole or complete.
Example: His life felt like a puzzle with missing pieces. / The family was like a puzzle with missing pieces.
Put Differently: Something important was missing.
26. As quiet as an empty street
Meaning: Feeling alone or sad.
Example: The shelter was as quiet as an empty street. / His voice was as quiet as an empty street.
Put Differently: No one was around. / He barely spoke.
27. Like a light turned off
Meaning: Feeling no joy.
Example: She felt like a light turned off after losing her home. / His eyes looked like a light turned off.
Put Differently: She had no joy. / He looked sad.
28. As flat as a worn-out tire
Meaning: Having no energy.
Example: He was as flat as a worn-out tire after walking all day. / She sat down, as flat as a worn-out tire.
Put Differently: He had no strength. / She felt drained.
29. Like a sidewalk with cracks
Meaning: Feeling broken or rough.
Example: His shoes were like a sidewalk with cracks old and used. / She felt like a sidewalk with cracks inside.
Put Differently: Things were worn down. / She felt broken.
30. As dry as an empty well
Meaning: Having nothing left to give.
Example: He was as dry as an empty well after days with no rest. / Her kindness felt as dry as an empty well.
Put Differently: He had no energy left. / She couldn’t help anymore.
31. Like a song no one hears
Meaning: Feeling ignored or unheard.
Example: Her voice was like a song no one hears. / He shared his story like a song no one hears.
Put Differently: No one listened.
32. As bare as a winter tree
Meaning: Feeling empty and alone.
Example: The shelter room felt as bare as a winter tree. / He stood as bare as a winter tree in the cold.
Put Differently: It felt lonely. / He had nothing left.
33. Like a page with no words
Meaning: Lost for things to say.
Example: She was like a page with no words. / After the bad news, he felt like a page with no words.
Put Differently: She didn’t know what to say. / He was speechless.
34. As small as a coin in a pocket
Meaning: Feeling unimportant.
Example: He felt as small as a coin in a pocket. / She felt as small as a coin in a big crowd.
Put Differently: He felt like he didn’t matter.
35. Like a clock with no hands
Meaning: Having no control over time or life.
Example: Their days felt like a clock with no hands. / Waiting in line felt like a clock with no hands.
Put Differently: Time didn’t feel normal. / Things felt out of control.
36. As broken as a torn backpack
Meaning: Feeling broken inside.
Example: He felt as broken as a torn backpack. / Her spirit was as broken as a torn backpack.
Put Differently: He was very hurt. / She was sad and tired.
37. Like a bell with no sound
Meaning: Feeling useless or ignored.
Example: His story felt like a bell with no sound. / She felt like a bell with no sound at school.
Put Differently: No one paid attention. / She felt invisible.
38. As still as a frozen pond
Meaning: Unable to act or move.
Example: He sat as still as a frozen pond. / The shelter was quiet as a frozen pond.
Put Differently: No one moved or spoke.
39. Like a chair with a missing leg
Meaning: Feeling unsteady or not strong.
Example: She stood like a chair with a missing leg. / His life felt like a chair with a missing leg.
Put Differently: She couldn’t stand strong. / His life felt shaky.
40. As quiet as a whisper in the wind
Meaning: Feeling barely there.
Example: Her voice was as quiet as a whisper in the wind. / He felt as quiet as a whisper in the wind at school.
Put Differently: She felt too small to be heard. / He felt unnoticed.
“Rewrite the Sentence” Activity: Similes for Homelessness
Below are 10 simple sentences that describe feelings or situations about homelessness. These sentences do not use similes. Rewrite each sentence using one of the similes you learned.
Sentences to Rewrite
- She had no place to sleep last night.
- He felt like no one saw him.
- They didn’t have enough food to eat.
- Her coat was too thin for winter.
- He felt really sad and tired.
- She didn’t know what to do next.
- He waited for help but no one came.
- The shelter was very quiet.
- She felt like no one wanted her around.
- He had to walk all day with no rest.
Answer Key
- She was like a bird without a nest last night.
- He felt like a shadow in the night.
- Their bag was as empty as a cupboard.
- Her coat was like shoes with holes.
- He felt as tired as a runner at the finish line.
- She felt as lost as a balloon in the wind.
- He waited like a mailbox with no letters.
- The shelter was as quiet as an empty street.
- She felt as cold as forgotten soup.
- He was as flat as a worn out tire.
Conclusion
Homelessness is a very real problem that many people face. It can bring feelings of sadness, fear, or being alone. By using similes, we can better understand how it might feel and talk about it in a kinder way. These similes help us show care, and they can remind us to look out for others.
Let’s keep learning how to speak kindly and think about others’ feelings. That way, we can make the world a little better for everyone.
