22+Similes for Broken: The Hidden Truth Writers Miss 💔✨

A simile is a figurative comparison using “like” or “as” to help the reader visualize an idea more vividly. Similes turn simple sentences into expressive images, making emotions easier to understand and feel.

When describing pain, heartbreak, loss, or damage, the right simile can transform writing from plain to powerful. In this guide, you’ll find 35 emotional similes for broken, each with a short meaning, a poetic quote, and extra examples you can use in stories, poetry, essays, dialogue, and creative writing exercises.

Whether you’re a student, a writer, or a creative learner, these figurative comparisons offer depth, emotion, and visual clarity—ideal for expressing fragile feelings and damaged moments with beauty and precision.

1. As Broken as Shattered Glass 🩹

Meaning: Completely destroyed, scattered beyond repair.
Quote: “Her trust lay as broken as shattered glass.”
Examples:

His dream fell as broken as shattered glass.
The friendship was as broken as shattered glass.
Promises cracked as broken as shattered glass.

2. As Broken as a Cracked Mirror 🪞

Meaning: Inner image damaged, distorted view of self or truth.
Quote: “His confidence was as broken as a cracked mirror.”
Examples:

Hope seemed as broken as a cracked mirror.
Their plan looked as broken as a cracked mirror.
Identity felt as broken as a cracked mirror.

3. As Broken as a Torn Page 📖

Meaning: Incomplete, missing pieces of a story or life.
Quote: “Her memories felt as broken as a torn page.”
Examples:

His history lay as broken as a torn page.
Their family stayed as broken as a torn page.
A dream remained as broken as a torn page.

4. As Broken as an Abandoned Toy 🧸

Meaning: Neglected, forgotten, emotionally discarded.
Quote: “He felt as broken as an abandoned toy.”
Examples:

Her dream sat as broken as an abandoned toy.
The promise was as broken as an abandoned toy.
Their unity fell as broken as an abandoned toy.

5. As Broken as a Rusted Chain ⛓️

Meaning: Worn over time, unable to hold together.
Quote: “Their trust was as broken as a rusted chain.”
Examples:

Faith snapped as broken as a rusted chain.
Hope hung as broken as a rusted chain.
The team felt as broken as a rusted chain.

6. As Broken as a Crushed Rose 🌹

Meaning: Beauty damaged, delicate pain.
Quote: “Her heart lay as broken as a crushed rose.”
Examples:

His feelings were as broken as a crushed rose.
The moment wilted as broken as a crushed rose.
Their love faded as broken as a crushed rose.

7. As Broken as a Wilted Leaf 🍃

Meaning: Drained, worn, slowly losing life.
Quote: “She looked as broken as a wilted leaf.”
Examples:

His joy sank as broken as a wilted leaf.
Hope thinned as broken as a wilted leaf.
The bond felt as broken as a wilted leaf.

8. As Broken as Silent Echoes 🌫️

Meaning: Pain unheard, emotion without voice.
Quote: “His apology sounded as broken as silent echoes.”
Examples:

The promise died as broken as silent echoes.
Their past felt as broken as silent echoes.
Love faded as broken as silent echoes.

9. As Broken as a Deserted House 🏚️

Meaning: Empty inside, abandoned dreams and memories.
Quote: “She was as broken as a deserted house.”
Examples:

His soul felt as broken as a deserted house.
The plan fell as broken as a deserted house.
Their future seemed as broken as a deserted house.

10. As Broken as a Burnt-Out Candle 🕯️

Meaning: Exhausted, no energy or light left.
Quote: “Hope flickered as broken as a burnt-out candle.”
Examples:

His strength faded as broken as a burnt-out candle.
Their spark died as broken as a burnt-out candle.
Joy dimmed as broken as a burnt-out candle.

11. As Broken as a Faded Photograph 📸

Meaning: Beauty and memory slowly disappearing.
Quote: “Love looked as broken as a faded photograph.”
Examples:

The past was as broken as a faded photograph.
His dream stayed as broken as a faded photograph.
Friendship blurred as broken as a faded photograph.

12. As Broken as a Forgotten Song 🎵

Meaning: Once meaningful, now lost and silent.
Quote: “Her joy was as broken as a forgotten song.”
Examples:

Their story echoed as broken as a forgotten song.
The promise hummed as broken as a forgotten song.
Faith drifted as broken as a forgotten song.

13. As Broken as a Frozen River 🧊

Meaning: Feelings frozen, no emotional flow.
Quote: “His sadness lay as broken as a frozen river.”
Examples:

Tears sat as broken as a frozen river.
Trust froze as broken as a frozen river.
Healing stalled as broken as a frozen river.

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14. As Broken as a Dead Battery 🔋

Meaning: Zero energy, no strength or will left.
Quote: “His ambition was as broken as a dead battery.”
Examples:

Hope drained as broken as a dead battery.
Creativity felt as broken as a dead battery.
Their drive stood as broken as a dead battery.

15. As Broken as Unstitched Fabric 🧵

Meaning: Coming apart thread by thread.
Quote: “Their unity was as broken as unstitched fabric.”
Examples:

The family bond was as broken as unstitched fabric.
Trust unraveled as broken as unstitched fabric.
Love weakened as broken as unstitched fabric.

16. As Broken as a Sunless Sky 🌑

Meaning: Empty, hopeless, without warmth.
Quote: “He felt as broken as a sunless sky.”
Examples:

Their future looked as broken as a sunless sky.
Joy vanished as broken as a sunless sky.
Dreams died as broken as a sunless sky.

17. As Broken as a Drowned Flame 💧

Meaning: Passion extinguished too soon.
Quote: “Her courage sank as broken as a drowned flame.”
Examples:

Ideas faded as broken as a drowned flame.
Joy ended as broken as a drowned flame.
Love dimmed as broken as a drowned flame.

18. As Broken as a Collapsed Bridge 🌉

Meaning: Loss of connection, everything falls apart.
Quote: “Their trust was as broken as a collapsed bridge.”
Examples:

The plan fell as broken as a collapsed bridge.
Dialogue stopped as broken as a collapsed bridge.
Teamwork failed as broken as a collapsed bridge.

19. As Broken as a Scattered Puzzle 🧩

Meaning: Too many missing pieces, no clear picture.
Quote: “Her mind felt as broken as a scattered puzzle.”
Examples:

The story lay as broken as a scattered puzzle.
Purpose felt as broken as a scattered puzzle.
Their bond was as broken as a scattered puzzle.

20+Similes for Lost: The Hidden Truth Nobody Sees 🧭

20. As Broken as a Fallen Feather 🪶

Meaning: Gentle, damaged by the slightest touch.
Quote: “Hope drifted as broken as a fallen feather.”
Examples:

Trust was as broken as a fallen feather.
Joy sank as broken as a fallen feather.
Love felt as broken as a fallen feather.

21. As Broken as an Empty Shell 🐚

Meaning: Hollow, nothing left inside.
Quote: “He walked as broken as an empty shell.”
Examples:

Confidence was as broken as an empty shell.
Dreams felt as broken as an empty shell.
Promises lay as broken as an empty shell.

22. As Broken as a Fading Shadow 🌒

Meaning: Disappearing, barely noticeable.
Quote: “Her smile was as broken as a fading shadow.”
Examples:

His strength was as broken as a fading shadow.
Their love felt as broken as a fading shadow.
Hope disappeared as broken as a fading shadow.

23. As Broken as Cracked Stone 🪨

Meaning: Strong outside, damaged within.
Quote: “His heart felt as broken as cracked stone.”
Examples:

Their unity was as broken as cracked stone.
Trust broke as broken as cracked stone.
Courage looked as broken as cracked stone.

24. As Broken as a Wilted Bouquet 💐

Meaning: Once loved, now fading and forgotten.
Quote: “Her love sat as broken as a wilted bouquet.”
Examples:

Memory felt as broken as a wilted bouquet.
Joy wilted as broken as a wilted bouquet.
Dreams lay as broken as a wilted bouquet.

25. As Broken as a Fallen Star 🌠

Meaning: Beauty lost in darkness, unexpected fall.
Quote: “His hope fell as broken as a fallen star.”
Examples:

Vision crashed as broken as a fallen star.
Talent dimmed as broken as a fallen star.
Love ended as broken as a fallen star.

26. As Broken as Scorched Earth🔥

Meaning: Damaged beyond easy repair.
Quote: “Her trust burned as broken as scorched earth.”
Examples:

Their bond lay as broken as scorched earth.
Joy died as broken as scorched earth.
Hope cracked as broken as scorched earth.

27. As Broken as an Unplayed Piano 🎹

Meaning: Silence where beauty once lived.
Quote: “His passion stood as broken as an unplayed piano.”
Examples:

Talent sat as broken as an unplayed piano.
Dreams felt as broken as an unplayed piano.
Vision muted as broken as an unplayed piano.

28. As Broken as Dried Clay 🏺

Meaning: Fragile, easy to crumble.
Quote: “Her spirit cracked as broken as dried clay.”
Examples:

Faith broke as broken as dried clay.
Trust chipped as broken as dried clay.
Love shattered as broken as dried clay.

29. As Broken as a Lost Key 🔑

Meaning: Missing solution, stuck in place.
Quote: “Her hope slipped as broken as a lost key.”
Examples:

Trust was as broken as a lost key.
Unity vanished as broken as a lost key.
Peace felt as broken as a lost key.

30. As Broken as a Darkened Window 🌒

Meaning: Thrown into darkness, blocked vision.
Quote: “Dreams looked as broken as a darkened window.”
Examples:

Joy dimmed as broken as a darkened window.
Faith shadowed as broken as a darkened window.
Trust clouded as broken as a darkened window.

31. As Broken as Scattered Ashes 🕊️

Meaning: Dust of what once was whole.
Quote: “Her story lay as broken as scattered ashes.”
Examples:

Love faded as broken as scattered ashes.
Trust blew as broken as scattered ashes.
Memory drifted as broken as scattered ashes.

32. As Broken as a Lost Compass 🧭

Meaning: No direction, confusion everywhere.
Quote: “Purpose spun as broken as a lost compass.”
Examples:

Identity felt as broken as a lost compass.
Faith wandered as broken as a lost compass.
Dreams roamed as broken as a lost compass.

33. As Broken as a Crushed Butterfly 🦋

Meaning: Innocence hurt, fragile beauty destroyed.
Quote: “Her heart was as broken as a crushed butterfly.”
Examples:

Hope fluttered as broken as a crushed butterfly.
Dreams fell as broken as a crushed butterfly.
Love ended as broken as a crushed butterfly.

34. As Broken as Forgotten Footsteps 🚶‍♂️

Meaning: Lost in history, meaning erased.
Quote: “His legacy was as broken as forgotten footsteps.”
Examples:

Memory faded as broken as forgotten footsteps.
Goals drifted as broken as forgotten footsteps.
Truth disappeared as broken as forgotten footsteps.

35. As Broken as Empty Hands 🤲

Meaning: Nothing left to hold, loss without comfort.
Quote: “She stood as broken as empty hands.”
Examples:

Faith felt as broken as empty hands.
Dreams returned as broken as empty hands.
Trust stayed as broken as empty hands.

Conclusion

In this guide, you explored 35 emotional similes for broken, each designed to help express complex feelings clearly and beautifully. Whether you’re describing heartbreak, damaged trust, or emotional exhaustion, the right figurative comparison can bring vivid imagery to your writing.

Similes shape meaning, turning pain into poetry. Even broken things can shine through language and imagination.
Explore more similes about nature, life, and emotions on our site.

FAQ

What are the best similes for broken?
Similes like as broken as shattered glass or as broken as a crushed rose capture deep emotional damage.

How do you write a simile?
Connect two ideas using “like” or “as” to create clear emotional imagery.

How can similes improve creative writing?
They make feelings visual, poetic, and easier to feel.

What’s the difference between a simile and a metaphor?
A simile uses “like” or “as”; a metaphor directly states comparison.

D.M. Thomas

D.M. Thomas, a thoughtful wordsmith at SimileHub.com, blends imagination with emotion, crafting rich imagery that guides readers into deeper, vivid expression.