likening 1 of 2

likening

2 of 2

verb

present participle of liken
1
as in comparing
to describe as similar he generally likened a root canal to some horrible form of torture

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

2

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 likening
Verb
The process inside the ‘Pentagon’ Inside the walls of Nationals Park, some began likening the process to living in a house while still building it. — Spencer Nusbaum, New York Times, 16 Sep. 2026 Marques Brownlee took issue with Haapoja likening generative AI to the Canon EOS 5D Mark II (an iconic DSLR known for making shooting in 1080p full HD more affordable for independent filmmakers). — Charles Pulliam-Moore, The Verge, 21 Aug. 2026 His bravado in attacking opponents’ campaign donors has earned him the moniker Meek Mill, likening his attacks to the rapper’s’ spitfire energy fueled from his time as a battle rapper. — Miami Herald, 12 Aug. 2026 Prediction market platforms and their proponents say trading contracts on the markets is not the same as betting, likening it instead to trading on the stock market. — Justine McDaniel, Los Angeles Times, 12 Aug. 2026 Gone is a hadith likening Christians and Jews to maimed animals; 11th-grade students now learn about coexistence from the Prophet Muhammad’s treaties with Christians and Jews. — Manal Albarakati, semafor.com, 12 Aug. 2026 The article highlights the immense challenge of monitoring and universally regulating AI's speed, likening it to nuclear agreements needing verification. — Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026 Mike Flanagan teases his approach to The Mist, likening it to his Carrie TV series. — Nick Romano, Entertainment Weekly, 25 July 2026 The church leader in charge of translating and distributing biblical literature around the world made an impassioned call for funds, likening the texts to life-giving rain. — Literary Hub, 24 July 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likening
Noun
  • On the plus side, the new snazzy ship has made Le Lyrial more affordable in comparison.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 23 Sep. 2026
  • OutKick’s Bobby Burack noted the absurdity of the slave-trade comparison Kaepernick made during an interview with former ESPN analyst Ryan Clark.
    — Matt Calkins OutKick, FOXNews.com, 22 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • An argument that resonated with lawmakers during their briefing was comparing regulation of AI to the FDA ensuring the safety of pharmaceuticals, Hinton told the Atlantic.
    — Jason Ma, Fortune, 26 Sep. 2026
  • Authorities are comparing the samples with DNA collected from recovered remains.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 26 Sep. 2026
Noun
  • Using an analogy in which a touchdown means the Bears are officially moving to Hammond, McDermott said the ball is currently in the red zone.
    — Ryan Canfield OutKick, FOXNews.com, 20 Sep. 2026
  • There are some serious limits to the AI-nukes analogy, nuclear policy expert Ankit Panda wrote in February in his newsletter, Nukesletter.
    — J.D. Capelouto, semafor.com, 18 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • The study’s authors are careful to frame Qurayyah Painted Ware as an example of ancient brand-making, rather than directly equating it with a modern multinational brand.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Others on Wall Street, however, see higher levels of risk, equating Meta's case to Big Tobacco in the 1990s when tobacco companies had to pay billions for misleading the public about the safety and potential harms of their products.
    — Paulina Likos, CNBC, 24 Aug. 2026
Noun
  • The complex structure on the sphere has had far-reaching uses, such as connecting complicated, ugly equations that live on its surface to simple, polynomial equations.
    — Joseph Howlett, Scientific American, 24 Sep. 2026
  • And, as tends to happen when alcohol enters the equation, the two came up with a brilliant idea.
    — Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Sep. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Likening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likening. Accessed 29 Sep. 2026.

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster