The phrase "the mean words hung in the air like smoke" is a simile. This is because it directly compares the mean words hanging in the air to smoke using the word "like."
In the given sentence, the phrase "the mean words hung in the air like smoke" is an example of a simile. A simile is a figure of speech that compares two different things using the words "like" or "as". In this case, the author compares the mean words hanging in the air to the behavior of smoke. By using "like," the author creates a vivid image in the reader's mind, indicating that the mean words had a lingering presence in the air, similar to how smoke would spread and stay in the atmosphere. So, to answer your question, it is a simile.
