When trying to express a similarity between two things, we often use the phrase "be likened to." However, there are many other phrases and words that can be used to convey the same meaning. For example, one could say "resemble," "mirror," "parallel," or "correspond to" instead of using "be likened to." These synonyms may be more specific depending on the context of the comparison, and can add variety to one's writing or speech. It's important to remember that using synonym does not only makes the writing more interesting but also avoids redundancy and provides a more precise meaning.