What is the opposite of a simile?

The opposite of a simile is a metaphor. While a simile makes a comparison between two different things using "like" or "as," a metaphor directly states that one thing is another, implying a more implicit connection. For example, saying "time is a thief" is a metaphor, whereas saying "time is like a thief" is a simile. Both are figures of speech, but they differ in how they convey their comparisons.