What is the term for a figure of speech that uses gross exaggeration for emphasis or effect?

The term that refers to a figure of speech which employs gross exaggeration for emphasis or effect is hyperbole. This rhetorical device is often used in literature and everyday language to create a strong impression or to evoke strong feelings from the audience. For example, saying "I’m so hungry I could eat a horse" is a hyperbole that exaggerates hunger to emphasize how starved the speaker feels. Hyperbole is effective because it conveys intensity and captures attention, allowing the listener or reader to visualize the exaggeration vividly.

The other terms listed do not fulfill this function. Allusion is a reference to a person, place, event, or literary work that is not explicitly mentioned but evokes a deeper meaning or context. A simile is a comparison between two different things using "like" or "as" to illustrate similarities. A metaphor is also a comparison but it describes one thing as if it were another, without using "like" or "as." Each of these figures of speech serves a different purpose in language and writing.