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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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

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 Zaha Hadid Architects principal Patrik Schumacher likens the collection’s élan with that achieved by the masterpieces of Michelangelo and the Renaissance, but reimagined for the 21st century. — Sofia Celeste, Footwear News, 26 Oct. 2026 That’s because the invasive lionfish—flamboyant enough that Bowman likens it to a Mardi Gras drag queen—wasn’t traditionally on the menu. — Victoria Malloy, Time, 21 Oct. 2026 Frost likens the distinction between conserving a kitchen in place and reconstructing one in a museum to the difference between a musical instrument still being played and one only on display. — Tara Anne Dalbow, Architectural Digest, 21 Oct. 2026 Dangerfield likens the four to musical superheroes from a Marvel series. — Christine Terrisse, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026 Selman likens the project to engineering, and Arabo brought to the assignment a similar level of meticulous seriousness. — Max Berlinger, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026 Vaonis The company likens Atlas to an interchangeable-lens camera. — New Atlas, 15 Oct. 2026 Hailey, who was sitting and listening, likens their situations. — Brian Moylan, Vulture, 14 Oct. 2026 Murray likens the iOS version to when the game initially launched on the original Switch. — Andrew Webster, The Verge, 12 Oct. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for likens
Verb
  • His current net approval of -19 percentage points compares with -8 a year ago.
    — Steve Liesman, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
  • This compares with 73% of third graders in Texas who were reading at this level in 2016.
    — Daniel H. Robinson, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Verb
  • Yet in a culture that equates progress with perpetual acceleration, to pause is to risk obsolescence.
    — Shanti Escalante-De Mattei, ARTnews.com, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Bob O’Brien, Counterpoint’s research director, also equates Mini LED with FALD.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 2 Oct. 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Likens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/likens. Accessed 29 Oct. 2026.

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