1
as in compared
to describe as similar
he generally likened a root canal to some horrible form of torture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of likened
Lloyd likened his extended stay – a 22-year assistantship that is not the norm in a very upwardly mobile profession – to making a sound investment.
—
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In an interview with CBS News' Ed O'Keefe on Friday, Moore, a Democrat, likened the ongoing war with Iran to the war in Afghanistan, where the governor served as a member of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Wright equates climate-change activists to alarmists and has likened efforts by Democrats to combat global warming to Soviet-style communism.
—Anca Gurzu, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
In his community, Bustamante likened it to denouncing Catholicism and removing photos of the pope.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Even Palumbo, who in January approved Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s application to intervene in the Hursh case, likened the Hursh matter to many cases that preceded it.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
One source likened it to Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the beverages industry or McDonald’s and Burger King in the burger wars.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2026
Entering the contest, Deschamps and his counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti, likened Thursday’s match as a true test of what a real World Cup environment would bring.
—Julian Cardillo, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Sphire likened Lorenzen to Highlands’ version of former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, who did a little bit of everything for the Nittany Lions.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 4 Apr. 2026
In an interview with CBS News' Ed O'Keefe on Friday, Moore, a Democrat, likened the ongoing war with Iran to the war in Afghanistan, where the governor served as a member of the Army's 82nd Airborne Division.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 3 Apr. 2026
Wright equates climate-change activists to alarmists and has likened efforts by Democrats to combat global warming to Soviet-style communism.
—Anca Gurzu, Encyclopedia Britannica, 3 Apr. 2026
In his community, Bustamante likened it to denouncing Catholicism and removing photos of the pope.
—ABC News, 31 Mar. 2026
Even Palumbo, who in January approved Attorney General Gentner Drummond’s application to intervene in the Hursh case, likened the Hursh matter to many cases that preceded it.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 31 Mar. 2026
One source likened it to Coca-Cola and Pepsi in the beverages industry or McDonald’s and Burger King in the burger wars.
—Kathryn Hopkins, Footwear News, 31 Mar. 2026
Entering the contest, Deschamps and his counterpart, Carlo Ancelotti, likened Thursday’s match as a true test of what a real World Cup environment would bring.
—Julian Cardillo, Boston Herald, 26 Mar. 2026
Sphire likened Lorenzen to Highlands’ version of former Penn State tight end Tyler Warren, who did a little bit of everything for the Nittany Lions.
—Grace Raynor, New York Times, 25 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likened
Verb
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The proliferation of biennials in the ’90s made the art world multicentric and global, a radical shift compared with previous decades.—
Daniel Birnbaum,
Artforum,
2 Apr. 2026
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OrbDoc, a health care technology company that uses artificial intelligence to create tools for clinicians, performed an analysis for NBC News that examined what hospitals charge uninsured patients for particular procedures compared with what Medicare pays.—
Gretchen Morgenson,
NBC news,
2 Apr. 2026
Verb
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In the latter category was presenter Jimmy Kimmel, who, in an act of exaggeration that would be Swiftian if intentional, equated the free speech policies of North Korea with those of, um, CBS.—
Peter Tonguette,
The Washington Examiner,
20 Mar. 2026
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For years, the FedRAMP process has been equated with actual security, Sager said.—
Renee Dudley,
ProPublica,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likened. Accessed 7 Apr. 2026.
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