liken
/ˈlʌɪk(ə)n
/verb [with object] (liken someone/thing to)
Point out the resemblance of someone or something to: racism is likened to a contagious disease...
- The new NASA administrator, Michael Griffin, made a revealing comparison, likening the space shuttle to a clipper ship - i.e., a once brilliant but now completely outmoded technology.
- The comparison might be very useful for likening a certain government to a Hitlerian menace.
- He likened the fight to the struggle against apartheid and forging links with progressive countries and organisations to finally eradicate apartheid.
Synonyms
compare, equate, show the resemblance/similarity between, analogize, draw an analogy between, make an analogy of/between, draw a parallel between, parallel, correlate, match;
link, associate, make connections between, bracket together, think of together, regard as similar, set beside, mention in the same breath;
set side by side
Origin
Middle English: from like1 + -en1.