Likening

Likening is the act of comparing two or more things and highlighting their similarities, often to explain something unfamiliar or make a point more understandable. It involves drawing an analogy, finding parallels, and establishing a resemblance between seemingly disparate subjects. The process emphasizes shared characteristics, fostering comprehension and facilitating a deeper appreciation of the subject at hand. This process can be both descriptive, illustrating relationships, or persuasive, bolstering arguments through comparative analysis. Successful likening depends on the relevance and clarity of the connection established, which can vary across disciplines and contexts.

Likening meaning with examples

• The history professor, in a lecture on the French Revolution, spent a significant amount of time likening the societal unrest of the time to a pressure cooker, slowly building heat until it exploded in violence. He described how tensions rose and fell, comparing the key players in the revolution to ingredients.
• When teaching his son about the concept of electricity, the father spent time likening the flow of electrons through a wire to the flow of water through a garden hose. He said, it is the same, and we call them electrons.
• In her new book on personal growth, the author is often likening the stages of human development to a climb up a mountain, each level presenting new challenges and offering unique viewpoints. She compared this with the concept of self-actualisation.
• The marketer, aiming to introduce a new product, started her pitch by likening it to a well-established, successful brand to emphasize its familiar yet improved qualities. She hoped to make the new brand seem more reliable.
• The philosopher, in his essay on free will, was meticulous in likening the human decision-making process to that of a computer program. He then argued this was just an illusion of freedom, and that we're not free to choose.