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
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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likening
Noun
  • In comparison, LaBeouf has long been open about his tumultuous childhood and has said that his father was a recovering addict, and at times abusive.
    — Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 30 Sep. 2026
  • By comparison, the world’s stock markets were valued at roughly $130 trillion.
    — Robin Wigglesworth, Fortune, 29 Sep. 2026
Verb
  • Researchers also tracked how glucosamine was processed in mice, comparing its effects on healthy brains with those affected by Alzheimer’s-like disease.
    — Shiv Sudhakar, FOXNews.com, 5 Oct. 2026
  • Here, Altman turned to a historical analogy, comparing this moment to the Industrial Revolution of the late 18th and early 19th centuries.
    — Alyson Shontell, Fortune, 5 Oct. 2026
Noun
  • The analogy resonates, but Ming-Trent — who found confidence in the verbal and intellectual bravado of Shakespeare — seems to have embraced only half the equation that made those artists great.
    — Sara Holdren, Vulture, 28 Sep. 2026
  • Marles used an analogy of the information sitting behind a fence.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 23 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
  • Offers greater energy density LMR prismatic cells are engineered to disrupt that equation.
    — Aman Tripathi, Interesting Engineering, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Pivot Bio puts cotton in the nitrogen equation Pivot Bio is making its case for replacing some of cotton’s synthetic nitrogen fertilizer with crop nutrition technology that delivers nitrogen to plant roots.
    — Alexandra Harrell, Footwear News, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Likening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likening. Accessed 6 Oct. 2026.

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