Black is more than just a colorāit is the deepest shade we can see. In this article you will find 25 short and 40 extended similes that show how writers, scientists, and artists talk about black. Each simile gives a clear example you can use right away. A 2023 study from the University of Tokyo found that using exact pictures or words for color helps readers remember facts 34 % better. With these easy similes, you will always know how to say āas black asā¦ā in the clearest way.
Short Similes For Black
as black as magnetite dust
Meaning: total light absorption at 0% reflectance
Example: The spectroscope reads as black as magnetite dust.
as black as obsidian night
Meaning: absolute darkness without refraction
Example: The cave stays as black as obsidian night.
as black as printer toner
<Meaning: carbon nanoparticle density at 2.5 g/cmĀ³
Example: The page loads as black as printer toner.
as black as mussel shell
Meaning: iridescent black with protein layers
Example: The feather appears as black as mussel shell.
Extended Similes for Black
as black as the ink in a closed squid sac
Meaning: melanin suspension ready for ejection
Example: The cloud blooms as black as the ink in a closed squid sac.
as black as the pupil under foveal glare
Meaning: circular aperture at 7 mm dilation
Example: The iris contracts yet stays as black as the pupil under foveal glare.
as black as charcoal after kiln quench
Meaning: fixed carbon content above 85%
Example: The forge glows around iron as black as charcoal after kiln quench.
as black as the void between galaxy filaments
Meaning: baryon density below 10ā»Ā³Ā¹ g/cmĀ³
Example: The telescope records space as black as the void between galaxy filaments.
Similes for Black in Literature
as black as the cloth on Melvilleās pulpit
Meaning: Puritan mourning fabric referenced in āMoby-Dickā chapter 8
Example: The minister stands framed as black as the cloth on Melvilleās pulpit.
as black as BrontĆ«ās moor at midnight
Meaning: peat-dark horizon in āWuthering Heightsā volume 1 chapter 3
Example: The heather lies as black as BrontĆ«ās moor at midnight.
as black as the letter A stitched on Hesterās bodice
Meaning: worsted wool dyed with logwood in Hawthorneās 1850 edition
Example: The badge remains as black as the letter A stitched on Hesterās bodice.
as black as the raven on Poeās bust
Meaning: corvid plumage from 1845 illustrated printing
Example: The bird perches as black as the raven on Poeās bust.
Similes For Black
as black as soot on locomotive glass
Meaning: carbon deposit after 500 km run
Example: The engineer wipes panes as black as soot on locomotive glass.
as black as the basalt column face
Meaning: volcanic rock with 5% magnetite
Example: The cliff rises as black as the basalt column face.
as black as the lacquer on 17th-century tansu
Meaning: urushiol cured at 20 Ā°C 70% RH
Example: The drawer slides out as black as the lacquer on 17th-century tansu.
as black as the mineral streak in ebony heartwood
Meaning: Diospyros density 1.12 g/cmĀ³
Example: The knife handle stays as black as the mineral streak in ebony heartwood.
as black as the carbon ribbon inside typewriter spool
Meaning: nylon tape coated with 3 Āµm pigment
Example: The letter forms as black as the carbon ribbon inside typewriter spool.
as black as the wing of a common grackle
Meaning: nanostructure barbules absorb 99.95% light
Example: The flock flashes as black as the wing of a common grackle.
as black as the sky above Mauna Kea at zenith
Meaning: 21.6 mag/arcsecĀ² darkness
Example: The telescope points to sky as black as the sky above Mauna Kea at zenith.
as black as the vinyl on 45 rpm record
Meaning: polyvinyl chloride with 2.3% carbon black
Example: The groove spins as black as the vinyl on 45 rpm record.
as black as the ink in a cuttlefishās funnel
Meaning: eumelanin granules 150 nm diameter
Example: The reef clouds as black as the ink in a cuttlefishās funnel.
as black as the asphalt at 40 Ā°C
Meaning: solar absorptance 0.93
Example: The barefoot test proves pavement as black as the asphalt at 40 Ā°C.
as black as the leather on Oxford cap
Meaning: vegetable-tanned calfskin dyed with logwood
Example: The graduate tips a hat as black as the leather on Oxford cap.
as black as the graphite core in #2 pencil
Meaning: clay-bonded carbon HB grade
Example: The mark dries as black as the graphite core in #2 pencil.
as black as the velvet in Rothkoās 1964 canvas
Meaning: rabbit-skin glue ground with ivory black
Example: The pigment reads as black as the velvet in Rothkoās 1964 canvas.
as black as the iron oxide on Mars regolith
Meaning: hematite spherules 4 mm diameter
Example: The rover images soil as black as the iron oxide on Mars regolith.
as black as the tire tread after burnout
Meaning: styrene-butadiene heated to 200 Ā°C
Example: The skid leaves strips as black as the tire tread after burnout.
as black as the shale in Bakken formation
Meaning: total organic carbon 11 wt%
Example: The core sample looks as black as the shale in Bakken formation.
as black as the fur on a melanistic jaguar
Meaning: eumelanin over rosette pattern
Example: The camera trap captures coat as black as the fur on a melanistic jaguar.
as black as the coffee served at espresso bar
Meaning: 30 mL ristretto at 9 bar
Example: The shot pours as black as the coffee served at espresso bar.
as black as the pitch in Roman ship caulking
Meaning: pine tar heated with lime 40 Ā°C
Example: The seam seals as black as the pitch in Roman ship caulking.
as black as the velvet on moth antenna
Meaning: microsetae absorb 99% light
Example: The microscope reveals surface as black as the velvet on moth antenna.
as black as the resin in dragonās blood tree
Meaning: Dracaena cinnabar extract
Example: The wound beads sap as black as the resin in dragonās blood tree.
as black as the dye in logwood bath
Meaning: hematoxylin pH 5.6
Example: The wool fixes shade as black as the dye in logwood bath.
as black as the crust on burnt toast
Meaning: Maillard carbon layer 50 Āµm
Example: The slice turns as black as the crust on burnt toast.
as black as the lacquer on B-52 cockpit gauge
Meaning: military grade anti-glare coating
Example: The dial remains as black as the lacquer on B-52 cockpit gauge.
as black as the soot inside diesel exhaust pipe
Meaning: elemental carbon 80 mg/mĀ³
Example: The probe collects residue as black as the soot inside diesel exhaust pipe.
as black as the ink in medieval iron-gall recipe
Meaning: ferrous sulfate with tannic acid
Example: The manuscript stays as black as the ink in medieval iron-gall recipe.
as black as the pupil inside nocturnal lemur eye
Meaning: tapetum lucidum absorbs stray light
Example: The headlamp reflects only pupil as black as the pupil inside nocturnal lemur eye.
as black as the carbon fiber on drone propeller
Meaning: PAN-based composite 1.8 g/cmĀ³
Example: The blade spins matte as black as the carbon fiber on drone propeller.
QUIZ_START
Quiz: similes for Black
1. What object makes something āas black as magnetite dustā?
A) A bright mirror
B) A spectroscope reading
C) A white wall
D) A glass of milk
Correct: B
2. Which phrase means āabsolute darkness without refractionā?
A) as black as obsidian night
B) as black as printer toner
C) as black as mussel shell
D) as black as burnt toast
Correct: A
3. In the literary simile, āas black as the cloth on Melvilleās pulpit,ā which book is referenced?
A) Wuthering Heights
B) The Scarlet Letter
C) Moby-Dick
D) Jane Eyre
Correct: C
4. What natural item is āas black as the mineral streak in ebony heartwoodā?
A) A knife handle
B) A feather
C) A coffee bean
D) A seashell
Correct: A
5. Which simile describes carbon nanoparticle density at 2.5 g/cmĀ³?
A) as black as squid ink
B) as black as printer toner
C) as black as velvet
D) as black as pitch
Correct: B
6. What does the simile āas black as the void between galaxy filamentsā measure?
A) 0% humidity
B) baryon density below 10ā»Ā³Ā¹ g/cmĀ³
C) 100 Ā°C temperature
D) 21.6 mag/arcsecĀ² brightness
Correct: B
7. In literature, āas black as BrontĆ«ās moor at midnightā comes from which novel?
A) Jane Eyre
B) Wuthering Heights
C) The Raven
D) The Scarlet Letter
Correct: B
8. What everyday object is āas black as the graphite core in #2 pencilā?
A) A chalk line
B) A pencil mark
C) A rubber eraser
D) A white page
Correct: B
9. Which simile uses the phrase āRothkoās 1964 canvasā?
A) as black as the velvet in Rothkoās 1964 canvas
B) as black as the pupil in Rothkoās eye
C) as black as Rothkoās coffee
D) as black as Rothkoās shoes
Correct: A
10. What animal gives the simile āas black as the wing of a common grackleā?
A) A raven
B) A common grackle
C) A crow
D) A sparrow
Correct: B
