Clouds come in many shapes and sizes. Sometimes they are fluffy and white, and other times they are dark and heavy. People often use similes to describe clouds in fun and creative ways. A simile is when we say something is like something else. It helps us imagine what things look or feel like.
In this article, we will explore similes for clouds. These phrases compare clouds to things we know, like animals, cotton, or even blankets. They make it easier to picture the sky in our minds. Let’s take a look at 30 similes that show how people describe clouds in everyday language.
Similes for Clouds
1. Like cotton candy
Meaning: Soft and fluffy clouds that look sweet and light
Example Sentence:
• The clouds were like cotton candy floating in the sky.
• It looked like someone had tossed cotton candy up into the air.
Other ways to say: Like pillows, like soft fluff
Fun Fact/Origin: Cotton candy is spun sugar that looks like soft puffs, making it a fun way to describe clouds.
Usage: Used for white, puffy clouds on a sunny day
2. Like marshmallows
Meaning: Puffy and white clouds that remind you of sweet marshmallows
Example Sentence:
• The sky was full of clouds like marshmallows.
• We watched marshmallow clouds float above the playground.
Other ways to say: Like cushions, like soft lumps
Fun Fact/Origin: Marshmallows are spongy and white, often used in hot chocolate and s’mores.
Usage: Used when clouds look soft and inviting
3. Like a blanket
Meaning: Clouds that cover the whole sky
Example Sentence:
• Gray clouds hung like a blanket over the town.
• The sky was wrapped in a cloud blanket.
Other ways to say: Like a roof, like a cover
Fun Fact/Origin: A blanket keeps you warm and covers you fully, just like thick clouds cover the sky.
Usage: Used during overcast or stormy weather
4. Like smoke
Meaning: Thin or wispy clouds that drift like smoke
Example Sentence:
• The clouds rose like smoke after the fireworks.
• A wisp of cloud floated by like smoke from a fire.
Other ways to say: Like mist, like steam
Fun Fact/Origin: Smoke from fires moves in swirls and fades out, just like thin clouds.
Usage: Used for thin, scattered clouds
5. Like whipped cream
Meaning: Light and creamy-looking clouds
Example Sentence:
• The clouds looked like whipped cream on a pie.
• Fluffy clouds rolled by like whipped cream on a sundae.
Other ways to say: Like frosting, like mousse
Fun Fact/Origin: Whipped cream is fluffy and white, making it easy to compare to clouds.
Usage: Used when clouds look soft and delicious
6. Like a herd of sheep
Meaning: Puffy white clouds scattered across the sky
Example Sentence:
• The clouds looked like a herd of sheep grazing in the sky.
• Little cloud-sheep drifted over the hills.
Other ways to say: Like woolly animals, like cotton balls
Fun Fact/Origin: Sheep are fluffy and white, and their groupings look like scattered clouds.
Usage: Used when many small clouds are spread out
7. Like a feather
Meaning: Light and floating softly in the sky
Example Sentence:
• That cloud floated like a feather on the wind.
• A single cloud drifted by like a feather falling.
Other ways to say: Like a leaf, like snowflakes
Fun Fact/Origin: Feathers fall slowly and softly, just like light clouds move across the sky.
Usage: Used for light, slow-moving clouds
8. Like spilled milk
Meaning: Clouds spreading out like a splash of milk
Example Sentence:
• The clouds were spread across the sky like spilled milk.
• It looked like milk had been poured all over the sky.
Other ways to say: Like paint, like a spill
Fun Fact/Origin: This simile shows how clouds spread thin and unevenly like a liquid spill.
Usage: Used for flat and stretched clouds
9. Like torn paper
Meaning: Jagged and scattered pieces of clouds
Example Sentence:
• The sky had clouds like torn paper scraps.
• It looked like someone had ripped paper and tossed it in the air.
Other ways to say: Like shreds, like pieces
Fun Fact/Origin: Torn paper edges look rough and broken, like scattered cloud bits.
Usage: Used for clouds that aren’t full or smooth
10. Like a dragon’s breath
Meaning: Long, misty clouds that stretch across the sky
Example Sentence:
• The clouds stretched like a dragon’s breath over the mountain.
• A mist floated by, like something from a dragon’s mouth.
Other ways to say: Like smoke, like steam
Fun Fact/Origin: Dragon’s breath in stories is often smoky or steamy, like some clouds
Usage: Used for misty, spreading clouds
11. Like gray wool
Meaning: Thick, gray, and heavy clouds
Example Sentence:
• The clouds looked like gray wool stuffed into the sky.
• It felt like a blanket of wool was hanging above us.
Other ways to say: Like felt, like fuzz
Fun Fact/Origin: Wool is dense and soft, like dark storm clouds
Usage: Used before rain or storms
12. Like bubbles
Meaning: Round and puffy clouds floating in the sky
Example Sentence:
• The clouds looked like bubbles floating away.
• She said the clouds looked like bath bubbles in the sky.
Other ways to say: Like balloons, like soap foam
Fun Fact/Origin: Bubbles are light and round, like some white clouds
Usage: Used for small, round clouds
13. Like mountain peaks
Meaning: Pointed and tall-looking clouds
Example Sentence:
• The clouds rose like mountain peaks in the distance.
• Tall clouds looked like snowy mountain tops.
Other ways to say: Like towers, like spikes
Fun Fact/Origin: Some storm clouds rise up tall like mountain tops
Usage: Used for thunderstorm clouds
14. Like jellyfish
Meaning: Long, floating clouds with stringy tails
Example Sentence:
• That cloud looked like a jellyfish floating through water.
• The cloud trailed down like a jellyfish in the sky.
Other ways to say: Like sea creatures, like strings
Fun Fact/Origin: Some clouds, like virga, look like jellyfish with trails
Usage: Used for clouds with streaks or trails
15. Like stretched taffy
Meaning: Thin clouds pulled across the sky
Example Sentence:
• The clouds stretched out like taffy being pulled.
• Long clouds dragged across the sky like candy.
Other ways to say: Like strings, like ribbons
Fun Fact/Origin: Taffy is soft candy that stretches, like some thin clouds
Usage: Used for long, pulled clouds
16. Like steam from a teapot
Meaning: Wispy clouds rising like steam
Example Sentence:
• The cloud rose like steam from a teapot.
• Mist floated up like a kitchen kettle steaming.
Other ways to say: Like vapor, like fog
Fun Fact/Origin: Steam rises and fades away, just like small clouds
Usage: Used for foggy or fading clouds
17. Like spilled paint
Meaning: Wide, smooth clouds spreading out
Example Sentence:
• The sky looked like it had spilled paint across it.
• Clouds blended like watercolor on paper.
Other ways to say: Like smudges, like smears
Fun Fact/Origin: Clouds can spread and mix colors, like paint does
Usage: Used for smooth, colored clouds
18. Like a torn sweater
Meaning: Clouds with gaps and uneven edges
Example Sentence:
• The clouds looked like a torn sweater in the sky.
• Pieces of cloud drifted like ripped fabric.
Other ways to say: Like threads, like rags
Fun Fact/Origin: Torn sweaters have holes and uneven threads, like broken clouds
Usage: Used for broken or scattered clouds
19. Like icing on a cake
Meaning: Smooth and fluffy clouds on top of the sky
Example Sentence:
• The clouds were spread like icing on a blue cake.
• Puffy clouds sat like sweet frosting on the sky.
Other ways to say: Like glaze, like spread cream
Fun Fact/Origin: Icing spreads smoothly, like clouds on a clear sky
Usage: Used when clouds float above a bright background
20. Like fish scales
Meaning: Thin, patchy clouds with a patterned look
Example Sentence:
• The sky had clouds like fish scales.
• Clouds were lined up like shiny fish scales.
Other ways to say: Like tiles, like plates
Fun Fact/Origin: Cirrocumulus clouds are known for this fish-scale pattern
Usage: Used for high, patchy clouds
21. Like a snowdrift
Meaning: Thick and smooth piles of cloud
Example Sentence:
• The clouds were shaped like snow drifts in the sky.
• White clouds stacked up like snow along the sidewalk.
Other ways to say: Like piles, like mounds
Fun Fact/Origin: Snowdrifts form soft, thick shapes, like puffy clouds
Usage: Used for snowy-looking clouds
22. Like a lion’s mane
Meaning: Fluffy and wild clouds, spread like hair
Example Sentence:
• The clouds looked like a lion’s mane in the wind.
• Fluffy clouds spread out like wild hair.
Other ways to say: Like fur, like curls
Fun Fact/Origin: A lion’s mane is wild and thick, just like some clouds look
Usage: Used for bold, wide clouds
23. Like chalk dust
Meaning: Light and powdery clouds drifting away
Example Sentence:
• The clouds floated off like chalk dust in the breeze.
• The wind brushed the clouds like chalk dust on a board.
Other ways to say: Like powder, like smoke
Fun Fact/Origin: Chalk dust is soft and fades quickly, like small clouds
Usage: Used for light, fading clouds
24. Like a river in the sky
Meaning: Long, flowing clouds that stretch across
Example Sentence:
• The clouds flowed like a river in the sky.
• A gray band of clouds moved like a stream.
Other ways to say: Like a path, like a road
Fun Fact/Origin: Some clouds form long shapes that seem to flow, like rivers
Usage: Used for long, connected clouds
25. Like dragon scales
Meaning: Textured clouds with a repeating shape
Example Sentence:
• The sky looked like it was covered in dragon scales.
• The clouds had sharp little shapes like a dragon’s back.
Other ways to say: Like armor, like tiles
Fun Fact/Origin: Some clouds look like overlapping scales from legends
Usage: Used for small, repeating cloud shapes
26. Like ghosts drifting
Meaning: Soft and slow-moving clouds that feel spooky or quiet
Example Sentence:
• The clouds drifted like ghosts across the sky.
• A white cloud moved like a ghost over the hills.
Other ways to say: Like spirits, like shadows
Fun Fact/Origin: Slow and quiet clouds can feel ghostly, especially at night
Usage: Used for slow clouds during sunset or early morning
27. Like puzzle pieces
Meaning: Clouds that fit or connect oddly
Example Sentence:
• The sky was full of cloud puzzle pieces.
• Some clouds looked like they could snap together.
Other ways to say: Like parts, like chunks
Fun Fact/Origin: Puzzle pieces fit in strange ways, like clouds sometimes do
Usage: Used when clouds appear to match up
28. Like frosting on cupcakes
Meaning: Fluffy and swirled clouds
Example Sentence:
• The clouds swirled like frosting on cupcakes.
• Each cloud looked like a little cupcake top.
Other ways to say: Like swirls, like soft peaks
Fun Fact/Origin: Cupcake frosting is light and round, like some clouds
Usage: Used for bubbly, playful clouds
29. Like stretched wool
Meaning: Long and soft clouds pulled across
Example Sentence:
• The clouds looked like wool being pulled across the sky.
• Strings of clouds stretched like soft yarn.
Other ways to say: Like threads, like fiber
Fun Fact/Origin: Wool stretches and thins out, just like wispy clouds
Usage: Used for thin, soft clouds
30. Like giant footprints
Meaning: Large gaps in the sky between thick clouds
Example Sentence:
• The clouds left big spaces like giant footprints.
• It looked like a giant walked through the clouds.
Other ways to say: Like tracks, like holes
Fun Fact/Origin: Big gaps in clouds can seem like something huge passed by
Usage: Used when clouds part or break
Quiz: Similes for Clouds
Instructions: Choose the best answer for each question. These questions are about similes that describe clouds. Think about what each phrase is comparing clouds to.
Question Key
1. What does it mean if clouds are “like cotton candy”?
A) They are dark and stormy
B) They are soft and fluffy
C) They are heavy and gray
2. When someone says the clouds are “like a blanket,” what does it mean?
A) The clouds are full of holes
B) The clouds are covering the sky
C) The clouds are shaped like squares
3. If clouds are “like marshmallows,” they look:
A) Thin and see-through
B) Flat and smooth
C) Puffy and white
4. What does it mean if clouds are “like spilled milk”?
A) They are colorful and bright
B) They are spread across the sky in patches
C) They are floating high above
5. If clouds are “like a herd of sheep,” how do they appear?
A) All joined in one big cloud
B) Scattered and fluffy
C) Long and straight
6. When clouds are “like torn paper,” what do they look like?
A) Flat and smooth
B) Jagged and broken into pieces
C) Thick and dark
7. What does “like jellyfish” suggest about the clouds?
A) They are fast and loud
B) They are long and floaty
C) They are square and rough
8. If clouds are “like steam from a teapot,” they are:
A) Thick and heavy
B) Rising and wispy
C) Bright and colorful
9. What kind of clouds look “like bubbles”?
A) Large and round
B) Thin and straight
C) Dark and stormy
10. When someone says clouds are “like a lion’s mane,” they mean:
A) The clouds are smooth
B) The clouds are fluffy and wild
C) The clouds are shaped like animals
11. If clouds are “like fish scales,” how do they appear?
A) As small, patterned patches
B) As one big cloud
C) As spinning circles
12. What do clouds look like when they are “like frosting on a cake”?
A) They are dark and stormy
B) They swirl and sit on top
C) They fall like rain
13. If someone says clouds are “like chalk dust,” what does it mean?
A) The clouds are bright blue
B) The clouds float away softly
C) The clouds are loud and heavy
Answer Key
- B) They are soft and fluffy
- B) The clouds are covering the sky
- C) Puffy and white
- B) They are spread across the sky in patches
- B) Scattered and fluffy
- B) Jagged and broken into pieces
- B) They are long and floaty
- B) Rising and wispy
- A) Large and round
- B) The clouds are fluffy and wild
- A) As small, patterned patches
- B) They swirl and sit on top
- B) The clouds float away softly
Wrapping Up
Clouds are part of our everyday sky, and similes help describe them in fun ways. Whether they look like cotton candy, torn paper, or jellyfish, each simile paints a picture we can imagine. These comparisons make language more colorful and help us share what we see in the sky. Next time you look up, try thinking of your own simile for the clouds you see.
