A Homeric simile, also called an epic simile, is a long comparison that uses a simile. The word "Homeric" comes from Homer, a Greek writer who created the famous stories The Iliad and The Odyssey. Many writers still use this type of simile, though it is most often found in classic works.

Homeric similes usually compare something unusual to something common, using a structure like "like a ______ when it ______." For example, The Iliad compares warriors to lions attacking prey. These similes help readers imagine peaceful scenes, even during intense moments like battles. They often appear during high action or emotion. Peter Jones said these similes "make the story more vivid, emotional, and funny" by surprising readers and drawing their attention in unexpected ways. They also allow the storyteller to speak directly to the audience.

Some scholars, like G.P. Shipp, believe Homer's similes seem unrelated to the story, as if they were added later. However, William Clyde Scott, in his book The Oral Nature of the Homeric Simile, argues that the similes are original and connected to the story. He says Homer uses similes to introduce characters, sometimes to praise them or to highlight their presence. For example, Agamemnon is described with a simile each time he returns to battle. Scott also notes that similes help hint at future events and keep readers interested, just as the final fight between Achilles and Hector does.

In her article On Homer's Similes, Eleanor Rambo agrees with Scott that the similes are intentional. She explains that they help readers understand characters or actions by linking them to familiar images. She says the key part of a simile is the verb that connects the two things being compared. Rambo also points out that Homer uses similes in two ways: to describe physical movement or to show emotional feelings.