as in comparison
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1
as in comparing
to describe as similar
he generally likened a root canal to some horrible form of torture
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in equating
to regard or represent as equal or comparable
I think that we can liken the two pianists, at least in terms of natural talent
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Recent Examples of likening
Sarah Min, CNBC, 8 May 2026
The rhetoric was often harsh — likening the president to a mob boss or calling him a sociopath — but did not espouse violence.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
His supporters touted video of Stevens being booed at the convention, only to watch other Democrats openly resent the disruption — likening it to activists on the left who refused to vote for Democratic nominees in 2016 and 2024.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Desmond called the ballot measure merely a ploy to extend term limits for supervisors, likening the rest of the package to an effort to feed a pet medicine by hiding it in a snack.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
But Mike’s attorney, Raymond Rafool, tells PEOPLE that Constance is contesting that, likening it to a bad deal signed years ago at a vulnerable moment.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Graham defended the process, likening the prep work to what goes into hosting a concert.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
Instead, scientists are likening it to the collapse of social bonds.
—Ryan Brennan
april 10, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
The backlash quickly gained traction online, with some comparing the event to the infamous Fyre Festival and others likening it to the viral Glasgow debacle, Willy’s Chocolate Experience.
—Grace Bellinghausen, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Verb
All of this only adds to conviction in AI, but also has some investors with long memories likening the current period to the late 1990s when the stock market boomed thanks to internet investment before the bubble eventually burst in 2000.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 8 May 2026
The rhetoric was often harsh — likening the president to a mob boss or calling him a sociopath — but did not espouse violence.
—Connor Sheets, Los Angeles Times, 3 May 2026
His supporters touted video of Stevens being booed at the convention, only to watch other Democrats openly resent the disruption — likening it to activists on the left who refused to vote for Democratic nominees in 2016 and 2024.
—Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 22 Apr. 2026
Desmond called the ballot measure merely a ploy to extend term limits for supervisors, likening the rest of the package to an effort to feed a pet medicine by hiding it in a snack.
—Lucas Robinson, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Apr. 2026
But Mike’s attorney, Raymond Rafool, tells PEOPLE that Constance is contesting that, likening it to a bad deal signed years ago at a vulnerable moment.
—David Chiu, PEOPLE, 16 Apr. 2026
Graham defended the process, likening the prep work to what goes into hosting a concert.
—Charlotte Observer, 15 Apr. 2026
Instead, scientists are likening it to the collapse of social bonds.
—Ryan Brennan
april 10, Kansas City Star, 10 Apr. 2026
The backlash quickly gained traction online, with some comparing the event to the infamous Fyre Festival and others likening it to the viral Glasgow debacle, Willy’s Chocolate Experience.
—Grace Bellinghausen, Sun Sentinel, 30 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likening
Noun
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By comparison, green jalapeños are slightly bitter and have a more grassy or vegetal taste.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
18 May 2026
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The Mia Goth comparison is so apt.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
18 May 2026
Verb
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The Bank of Spain estimates the Southern European nation of 50 million is short of 700,000 homes, comparing demand to the pace of new construction.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 May 2026
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Researchers in the collaboration are comparing the latest data on the cosmological microwave background radiation with the various possible shapes of the universe.—
Manon Bischoff,
Scientific American,
23 May 2026
Noun
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Ming-Yu Liu, a vice president at Nvidia’s Cosmos Lab, shared a more cinematic analogy, pointing to The Matrix, in which the main character learns kung fu inside a simulated world.—
Sharon Goldman,
Fortune,
20 May 2026
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The psychologist found these analogies interesting.—
Weike Wang,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
Verb
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Contemporary theories of consciousness generally attempt to bridge this gap by equating consciousness with some measurable, physical property of the brain.—
Conor Feehly,
Big Think,
10 Mar. 2026
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The administration reframes the drug war as military conflict, equating cartels to terrorist groups like ISIS and prioritizing lethal force over law enforcement.—
Joshua Goodman,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Mar. 2026
Noun
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Close to 100 coaches representing 60 colleges signed up for the Orland Park event, although Power Four conference schools were not a part of the equation in any of the state’s combines.—
Jeff Vorva,
Chicago Tribune,
14 May 2026
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But there is a lot more to that equation.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
14 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likening. Accessed 26 May. 2026.
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