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
Some went as far as likening the outage to life in prehistoric times or descending into madness. — Angela Yang, NBC news, 2 Nov. 2026 What readers are saying The comments reflect a strong opposition to the idea of live-streaming an execution, with many criticizing it as barbaric and likening it to historical spectacles of violence. — Anthony Faiola, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 2026 For his part, Khrushchev readily admitted to such behavior in his memoirs, likening his noisy antics to those of revolutionary protesters in the Duma, an imperial Russian legislative body. — Britannica Editors, Encyclopedia Britannica, 5 Oct. 2026 In May, after one detainee was stabbed and the facility was put on lockdown, 51 detainees signed a letter criticizing the conditions and likening them to torture. — Seth Klamann, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026 Forrest sees it as an investment, similar to Fortescue’s Real Zero plan, that will pay off in time, in this case after the war, likening Ukraine’s prospects to West Germany’s economic boom after World War II. — Vivienne Walt, Fortune, 23 Sep. 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likening
Noun
  • Two Shell’s music, in comparison, is no longer good, and has only gotten worse.
    — Andrew Ryce, Pitchfork, 3 Nov. 2026
  • For Nafousi, having sold two million copies of her book, 12,000 starting units felt relatively modest by comparison, but surplus stock and resulting production delays quickly became an issue.
    — Amy Francombe, Vogue, 3 Nov. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers found similar results after tracking 171 adults, comparing tooth decay in participants using a hydroxyapatite toothpaste to those using a fluoride toothpaste for 18 months.
    — Rachel Carlson, NPR, 2 Nov. 2026
  • Protect your trip by comparing your travel insurance options online now.
    — Aly J Yale, CBS News, 2 Nov. 2026
Noun
  • The scene serves as an intimate and visceral analogy to the more diffuse horrors of war.
    — Joshua Yaffa, New Yorker, 2 Nov. 2026
  • In this analogy, Anderson would be ironing out logistics like camera angles or lighting.
    — Laura Zornosa, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • This is where leaders should be careful about equating AI adoption with transformation.
    — Hugo Sarrazin, Forbes.com, 5 Nov. 2026
  • Magnus Taylor, deputy Horn of Africa director at the International Crisis Group, cautioned against equating the loss of towns with an end to fighting.
    — Arkansas Online, Arkansas Online, 17 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • But community activist Nuri Muhammad, who has spent years working with young people at risk of becoming involved in gun violence, says enforcement is only part of the equation.
    — Nina Burns, CBS News, 7 Nov. 2026
  • Make Governance An Accelerator Governance is often treated as the brake on innovation, but AI changes the equation.
    — Bryan Lapidus, Forbes.com, 6 Nov. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Likening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likening. Accessed 11 Nov. 2026.

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