likens

present tense third-person singular of liken
1
as in compares
to describe as similar he generally likened a root canal to some horrible form of torture

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2
as in identifies
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 likens The builder likens the system to an air fryer, which is almost enough to put you off your French fries. Adam Williams july 01, New Atlas, 1 July 2026 For 80 years the most magical music festival in America has taken place over a long early June weekend in a town that got its name from the Chumash word for moon, that likens itself to Shangri-la and that lets time stop for those sudden moments when the setting sun pinkens the Topatopa mountains. Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 23 June 2026 Brittany also likens Danny sneaking a drink to the things that Jax used to do to her. Brian Moylan, Vulture, 4 June 2026 One was the billionaire businessman Thomas Kaplan, who likens Turner to a combination of John Muir and Teddy Roosevelt. Todd Wilkinson, Denver Post, 27 May 2026 In the article, Rayport likens the ideal marketing campaign to a virus—one that strikes quickly, costs little, and works effectively. Encyclopedia Britannica, 15 May 2026 So when Frazier likens the present-day Knicks to his championship-winning teams of the 1970s, it shouldn’t be taken lightly. Peter Sblendorio, New York Daily News, 6 May 2026 Californian winemaker David Coventry, who made the move from Monterrey to Mountain Brook Vineyards in 2022, likens the region to Bordeaux, with Chardonnay, Viognier, Cabernet Franc, and Merlot thriving alongside the region’s star grape, Petit Manseng. Belinda Luksic, Southern Living, 2 May 2026 Looking back, Knight likens the near-romance to a fleeting moment in time. Virginia Chamlee, PEOPLE, 30 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likens
Verb
  • By one measure, which compares a company’s stock price to its earnings per share, these companies might look expensive.
    Alex Veiga, Los Angeles Times, 27 June 2026
  • That compares with 84 by this time last year.
    Kansas City Star, Kansas City Star, 27 June 2026
Verb
  • Five Hundred Years of Religion in America means this is not just another history going back to 1776, and this is not a book that equates religion with Christianity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 9 June 2026
  • The webpage equates undocumented immigrants with extraterrestrials.
    Brittney Melton, NPR, 3 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Likens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likens. Accessed 3 Jul. 2026.

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