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
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
Baumgartner sees potential for both to co-exist locally, likening it to how beer used to be available.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 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
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
Baumgartner sees potential for both to co-exist locally, likening it to how beer used to be available.
—Tiney Ricciardi, Denver Post, 30 Mar. 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, about 60% of the vote in the 2024 presidential general election was cast before Election Day.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
4 May 2026
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In comparison, the Invesco S & P 500 Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (RSPD) fell behind.—
Sarah Min,
CNBC,
4 May 2026
Verb
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The result is a standardized way of comparing chocolate, allowing cacao to be priced and valued according to its quality.—
Ari Daniel,
NPR,
10 May 2026
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Executives at Nielsen don’t see TV ratings going away, however, because impressions remain an apples-to-apples way of comparing one TV or streaming program to another.—
Brian Steinberg,
Variety,
9 May 2026
Noun
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At one point, Lennon was musing about his belief in reincarnation, and enumerating some of his past lives and identities, when Ono made a blunt analogy.—
Kelefa Sanneh,
New Yorker,
4 May 2026
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Many of those players were as tough as ring-shank nails, to borrow another carpentry analogy.—
Tom Krasovic,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
4 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
-
Chronicle completes the equation.—
Katie Campione,
Deadline,
7 May 2026
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Luigi Avantaggiato But the island’s aesthetic—and the tourism industry that depends on it—are only part of the equation.—
IEEE Spectrum,
IEEE Spectrum,
7 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Likening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likening. Accessed 11 May. 2026.
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