1
as in compares
to describe as similar
he generally likened a root canal to some horrible form of torture
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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Recent Examples of likens
Tom Kane, of Harvard University's Center for Education Policy Research, likens these rounds of student achievement data to helpful health checks to see how students are doing.
—
Cory Turner, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
Klonoff likens the technology of the time to the Wright brothers’ first aircraft prototypes as compared with today’s jet engines.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Conley likens the hours following a playoff exit to the immediate aftermath of a minor car accident.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
Maddock likens losing her long hair to an identity crisis.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Oct. 2025
Roberts likens miners’ struggles to biblical stories, references the power of God and the teachings of Jesus, and speaks in the dynamic cadences found in an Appalachian church.
—The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
However, Peters likens Ingram to former Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who provided steady netminding in helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Commanders long snapper Tyler Ott likens a snap to free throws.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025
Mahr likens the tools to a cooked meal, and the raw datasets to ingredients.
—Marlowe Starling, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Cory Turner, NPR, 14 Oct. 2025
Klonoff likens the technology of the time to the Wright brothers’ first aircraft prototypes as compared with today’s jet engines.
—Carrie Arnold, Scientific American, 14 Oct. 2025
Conley likens the hours following a playoff exit to the immediate aftermath of a minor car accident.
—Jace Frederick, Twin Cities, 13 Oct. 2025
Maddock likens losing her long hair to an identity crisis.
—Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 9 Oct. 2025
Roberts likens miners’ struggles to biblical stories, references the power of God and the teachings of Jesus, and speaks in the dynamic cadences found in an Appalachian church.
—The Conversation, 7 Oct. 2025
However, Peters likens Ingram to former Coyotes goaltender Darcy Kuemper, who provided steady netminding in helping the Colorado Avalanche win the Stanley Cup in 2022.
—Daniel Nugent-Bowman, New York Times, 2 Oct. 2025
Commanders long snapper Tyler Ott likens a snap to free throws.
—Greg Rosenstein, NBC news, 20 Sep. 2025
Mahr likens the tools to a cooked meal, and the raw datasets to ingredients.
—Marlowe Starling, Forbes.com, 18 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likens
Verb
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That compares with 8,663 voluntary departures for the previous fiscal year.—
Jason Ma,
Fortune,
12 Oct. 2025
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Chris Goldfinger, an Oregon State University marine geologist and lead author of the new paper, compares the process to tuning an analog radio, in which the device’s oscillators are synced up to convert incoming signals.—
Jack Tamisiea,
Scientific American,
10 Oct. 2025
Verb
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Such pursuits may be the only way to shake off intellectual paralysis—the only way to remember what 2+2 actually equates.—
Shirley Li,
The Atlantic,
21 Oct. 2025
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For a culture like ours, which so closely equates value with productivity, this disruption poses an existential threat as much as an economic one.—
Jane Marie Chen,
Time,
10 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Likens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likens. Accessed 24 Oct. 2025.
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