From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishliken somebody/something to somebody/something phrasal verbformalCOMPARE to say that someone or something is similar to another person or thing SYN compare Critics have likened the new theater to a supermarket. → liken→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
liken to • Both have similar memories of Friedli, likening him to a friend and teacher.• But if she had to liken him to anything it would be an overgrown teddy bear in determined pursuit of his honey.• It will liken welfare to drugs: soothing, addictive, and utterly destructive of independence and initiative.• Then Jones will liken Switzer to some of the great men in world history, like Marco Polo. 