LIKENESS Synonyms: 117 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'likeness' distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of likeness are analogy , resemblance , similarity , and similitude . While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike. // a remarkable likeness to his late father // some similarity between the two cases

Q: When is it sensible to use 'analogy' instead of 'likeness'?

In some situations, the words analogy and likeness are roughly equivalent. However, analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities. // pointed out analogies to past wars

Q: When is 'resemblance' a more appropriate choice than 'likeness'?

The words resemblance and likeness are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities. // statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

Q: When can 'similitude' be used instead of 'likeness'?

The meanings of similitude and likeness largely overlap; however, similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions. // two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

likeness

noun

ˈlīk-nəs

Definition of likeness

as in image

a two-dimensional design intended to look like a person or thing the wealthy businessman hired a leading artist to paint his likeness

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Relevance

as in replica

something or someone that strongly resembles another why, you're the very likeness of your mother!

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in resemblance

the quality or state of having many qualities in common the forgery was difficult to detect due to the pinpoint likeness it bore to the original

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How is the word likeness distinct from other similar nouns?

Some common synonyms of likeness are analogy, resemblance, similarity, and similitude. While all these words mean "agreement or correspondence in details," likeness implies a closer correspondence than similarity which often implies that things are merely somewhat alike.

a remarkable likeness to his late father

some similarity between the two cases

When is it sensible to use analogy instead of likeness?

In some situations, the words analogy and likeness are roughly equivalent. However, analogy implies likeness or parallelism in relations rather than in appearance or qualities.

pointed out analogies to past wars

When is resemblance a more appropriate choice than likeness?

The words resemblance and likeness are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, resemblance implies similarity chiefly in appearance or external qualities.

statements that bear little resemblance to the truth

When can similitude be used instead of likeness?

The meanings of similitude and likeness largely overlap; however, similitude applies chiefly to correspondence between abstractions.

two schools of social thought showing points of similitude

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of likeness Using the likeness of late actor Toshiro Mifune certainly helps, but there’s a lot of subtle and not-so-subtle facial work in this game that breathes life into Miyamoto Musashi, the titular Onimusha. — Zackery Cuevas, PC Magazine, 31 Aug. 2026 The states in the chain's operating area have more than 100 Division I football programs, and Casey's has name, image and likeness deals with three standouts, including Iowa preseason All-American offensive lineman Trevor Lauck. — Israel Schuman, Des Moines Register, 28 Aug. 2026 Our nation’s capital is besmirched, on his say-so, with signs and banners bearing his likeness and name. — Letters To The Editor, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Aug. 2026 In the middle of it all stands a gleaming bronze likeness of Johnny Ramone, frozen forever mid-riff, evoking the landmark’s strange yet splendorous afterlife environment. — Lina Lecaro, SPIN, 28 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for likeness

Recent Examples of Synonyms for likeness

Noun

Light enters, and an image is reflected, but one’s consciousness is scaleable, elastic, shrinkable to the space within the glass.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 15 Sep. 2026
By now, Donohue would have been confident that Haaland was factually onside, but there was still the final stage, which is to approve an image that would be sent to the broadcasters.

— Graham Scott, New York Times, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of image

Noun

Just then, the strains of a familiar song wafted across the store, and Valencia and Zegarra followed it, past a Lightning McQueen replica, to a tiny area where a half-dozen child-size chairs were arranged before a screen.

— Daniel Alarcón, New Yorker, 7 Sep. 2026
Accompanied by some technology — radars, satellite phones and whatnot — and a volleyball replica of Wilson from Castaway, Tez spent weeks in the Pacific with pods of dolphins, friendly seagulls and his own thoughts.

— Daniel Fienberg, HollywoodReporter, 5 Sep. 2026

Definition of replica

Noun

The stock has spent the last six months carving out a broad rounded bottom with some resemblance to an inverse head-and-shoulders pattern.

— Jay Woods, CNBC, 3 Sep. 2026
Any resemblance between the TikTok series and the real-life version of Chairman Tom Ricketts meeting his wife, Cece, in the bleachers is purely coincidental, a Cubs source said.

— Paul Sullivan, Chicago Tribune, 1 Sep. 2026

Definition of resemblance

Noun

After reviewing a transcript of the scene provided by The Hollywood Reporter, two prominent American Muslim advocacy groups excoriated the film’s depiction of Islam.

— Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 11 Sep. 2026
The detailed scenes highlight hunting rituals and feature realistic depictions of the animals.

— Michele Metych Britannica Editors Sep. 10, Encyclopedia Britannica, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of depiction

Noun

Mannion’s big-picture plans require Hurts to play in an Eagles offense that has already looked very different.

— Brooks Kubena, New York Times, 8 Sep. 2026
The Late Show won for writing, short form comedy, picture editing, technical direction and camerawork, and lighting design — all a fond farewell to the show.

— Bethy Squires, Vulture, 7 Sep. 2026

Definition of picture

Noun

According to the chef, the global spotlight highlighted more similarities than differences between the World Cup and NFL fans.

— Henri Hollis, AJC.com, 16 Sep. 2026
At both this year’s Strade Bianche and Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Seixas was clearly the second-best rider in the field behind Pogačar — and these are two races which bear similarities to the World Championships’ parcours.

— Jacob Whitehead, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of similarity

Noun

Pretenders, the portrait of this first-ballot frontwoman’s venerable punk outfit that just premiered at the Toronto International Film Festival, gives you a possible answer pretty quickly.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 14 Sep. 2026
For the first time, Zvyagintsev made a movie outside of Russia, moving Minotaur’s production to Latvia to stand in for a brutally frank portrait of his homeland at the dawn of the Ukraine war.

— David Canfield, HollywoodReporter, 14 Sep. 2026

Definition of portrait

Noun

With Oklo, the team is building machine-learning systems and digital twins for electrorefining.

— Georgina Jedikovska, Interesting Engineering, 16 Sep. 2026
The Pigeon Sisters — Desi Amato as Gwendolyn and Penny Amara as Cecily — are played as distinct individuals rather than as near-twins as often happens.

— Christopher Arnott, Hartford Courant, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of twin

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likeness

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Style

“Likeness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likeness. Accessed 19 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of likeness

noun

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