What is the term for a figure of speech that equates two dissimilar things without using a comparative phrase?

The term that refers to a figure of speech equating two dissimilar things without using comparative phrases like "like" or "as" is a metaphor. A metaphor asserts that one thing is another, directly linking them in a way that highlights their similarities in a more implicit manner. For example, saying "Time is a thief" suggests that time steals moments from us, creating a vivid image without explicitly stating the comparison.

In contrast, a simile uses comparative phrases to highlight similarities between two different things, such as in "Life is like a journey." An extended metaphor builds on the initial metaphor by continuing to draw comparisons throughout a piece of writing, while an analogy often explains an idea or thing by comparing it to something more familiar. Each of these figures of speech contributes to language in unique ways, but the defining characteristic of a metaphor is its directness and lack of comparative phraseology.