1
as in compares
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 identifies
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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Recent Examples of likens
Conte likens the rapid data center expansion to a city’s decision to build a new sports stadium.
—
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The restaurant’s general manager, Saskia Baden, likens it to a Mediterranean bento box.
—Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Alpert has the set in saffron and likens them to liquid gold of bed linens.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Feb. 2026
Vaughters likens the pursuit of an additional partner to one of his favourite pastimes, fishing.
—Andy McGrath, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Bharat likens the novel system to adding a bridge to a highway—like interstate traffic, blood travels from the right side of the heart to the lungs, then to the left side of the heart and then on to the rest of the body.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
Takata likens having an ICD implanted to having an airbag in a car.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
DaCosta likens the actions of Jimmy and his acolytes to those of Major Henry West (Christopher Eccleston) and his soldiers, who turned to enslaving and raping women in the wake of society's collapse in the first movie.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Ray likens the security of using a publicly available AI tool to public parking.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 13 Feb. 2026
The restaurant’s general manager, Saskia Baden, likens it to a Mediterranean bento box.
—Laurie Ochoa, Los Angeles Times, 9 Feb. 2026
Alpert has the set in saffron and likens them to liquid gold of bed linens.
—Yelena Moroz Alpert, Architectural Digest, 7 Feb. 2026
Vaughters likens the pursuit of an additional partner to one of his favourite pastimes, fishing.
—Andy McGrath, New York Times, 30 Jan. 2026
Bharat likens the novel system to adding a bridge to a highway—like interstate traffic, blood travels from the right side of the heart to the lungs, then to the left side of the heart and then on to the rest of the body.
—Jackie Flynn Mogensen, Scientific American, 29 Jan. 2026
Takata likens having an ICD implanted to having an airbag in a car.
—Ciara McCarthy, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 22 Jan. 2026
DaCosta likens the actions of Jimmy and his acolytes to those of Major Henry West (Christopher Eccleston) and his soldiers, who turned to enslaving and raping women in the wake of society's collapse in the first movie.
—Megan McCluskey, Time, 16 Jan. 2026
Ray likens the security of using a publicly available AI tool to public parking.
—Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 30 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likens
Verb
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The pilot program compares streets using rat birth control to streets that aren't.—
Tara Molina,
CBS News,
13 Feb. 2026
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Rodney Ulyate, a spokesperson for the Association of Cricket Statisticians and Historians, compares it to when a pitcher in baseball gets three consecutive strikeouts.—
Juliana Kim,
NPR,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
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Subsequent rulings expanded the assault on our electoral system, including Citizens United, which equates people to corporations — more nonsense.—
Sun Sentinel Editorial Board,
Sun Sentinel,
30 Jan. 2026
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Meghan Callahan, from the Empower Fans Coalition, a group that opposes the bill, equates this licensing change to taking a lease out on the ticket.—
Cerys Davies,
Los Angeles Times,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likens. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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