1
as in compared
to describe as similar
he generally likened a root canal to some horrible form of torture
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in identified
to regard or represent as equal or comparable
I think that we can liken the two pianists, at least in terms of natural talent
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of likened
The political liberalization, while still incipient, was likened by Velásquez to glasnost, referring to the era of reforms and freer public debate that preceded the collapse of the Soviet Union.
—
Egina Garcia Cano, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Some state legislators likened the current moment to the weeks after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, which helped unify Democratic lawmakers and spurred the passage of a marquee police oversight bill in Colorado.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
Hutchinson and Gibbs partnered with Rocket Mortgage on Radio Row to spread the word on being a good neighbor, and likened home living to the locker room.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Justin Treutelaar likened the mechanics of long snapping to those used by golfers.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Hickey likened the current situation to the fiber-optic networking bubble that began collapsing in 2000.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Page likened her to a defensive game-changer in the mold of Bill Russell.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 2 Feb. 2026
As his public pronouncements became ever more circumspect, political commentators likened his approach to that of someone carrying a Ming vase across a polished museum floor, fixated on nothing more and nothing less than the task of delivering it safely to its plinth.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Many neuroscientists at the time likened astrocytes’ newfound properties to those of neurons, but in retrospect the differences seem glaring.
—Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Egina Garcia Cano, Arkansas Online, 8 Feb. 2026
Some state legislators likened the current moment to the weeks after the 2020 police killing of George Floyd, which helped unify Democratic lawmakers and spurred the passage of a marquee police oversight bill in Colorado.
—Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 8 Feb. 2026
Hutchinson and Gibbs partnered with Rocket Mortgage on Radio Row to spread the word on being a good neighbor, and likened home living to the locker room.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 6 Feb. 2026
Justin Treutelaar likened the mechanics of long snapping to those used by golfers.
—Steve Reaven, Chicago Tribune, 5 Feb. 2026
Hickey likened the current situation to the fiber-optic networking bubble that began collapsing in 2000.
—Alex Harring, CNBC, 4 Feb. 2026
Page likened her to a defensive game-changer in the mold of Bill Russell.
—Danny Davis, Austin American Statesman, 2 Feb. 2026
As his public pronouncements became ever more circumspect, political commentators likened his approach to that of someone carrying a Ming vase across a polished museum floor, fixated on nothing more and nothing less than the task of delivering it safely to its plinth.
—Oliver Kay, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Many neuroscientists at the time likened astrocytes’ newfound properties to those of neurons, but in retrospect the differences seem glaring.
—Ingrid Wickelgren, Quanta Magazine, 30 Jan. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likened
Verb
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Some economists suggested last week's rise could be statistical noise, and the total number remains relatively low compared with history.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
6 Feb. 2026
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Next-generation therapies, which include combinations of GLP-1 drugs and other peptides, are being studied for their potential to better preserve muscle and bone compared with GLP-1 drugs alone.—
Amy J. Sheer,
The Conversation,
5 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Jones has often equated that factor to using a credit card, meaning a bill will eventually come due.—
Joseph Hoyt,
Dallas Morning News,
5 Feb. 2026
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Google’s Sundar Pichai has equated AI to the discovery of fire or electricity in its ability to democratize information.—
Jake Angelo,
Fortune,
21 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likened. Accessed 15 Feb. 2026.
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