No single like synonym works everywhere, because like does at least four jobs: it compares (similar to, akin to), introduces examples (such as), stands in for as if, and, as a verb, means enjoy. Writers who spot which job it is doing can swap it in seconds.
This page walks through each role with its best replacements, the small grammar rules that teachers check, and spoken fillers you might want to cut. More linking words are collected on the transition words hub.
Swatch at a glance
Best swaps
similar to, such as, as if, enjoy, be fond ofPart of speech
Preposition, conjunction, verb (also noun: likes and dislikes)Most formal
akin to, comparable to, resemblingMost casual
kind of like, be into, the wayAntonyms
unlike, different from, dislikeWatch out
Such as introduces examples; like compares. Fruits such as apples is the careful form.Word forms covered
like, likes, liked, liking, alike
Which job is like doing
| Role | Swap with | Before and after |
|---|---|---|
| Comparing | similar to, much like, akin to | A phone like a brick becomes a phone similar to a brick. |
| Giving examples | such as, including, for instance | Cities like Rome becomes cities such as Rome. |
| Joining a clause | as if, as though | He acts like he owns it becomes he acts as if he owns it. |
| Expressing taste | enjoy, be fond of, love | I like jazz becomes I enjoy jazz. |
Once you know the role, the right word is usually obvious.
The like synonym ladder, casual to formal
The five chips shown above, all comparison words, climb in formality. Kind of like is chatty and hedged. Just like stresses a close match. Similar to is neutral and safe in nearly every register. Comparable to sounds measured and suits reports. Akin to is literary and best saved for one striking comparison in an essay.
Grammar rules teachers mark
Like is a preposition, so in careful writing it takes a noun: she sings like a bird. When a full clause follows, formal style prefers as or as if: she sings as her mother did, it looks as if it will rain. Using like before a clause is normal in speech but can lose marks on an exam.
Another quiet rule: like can suggest the items are only similar, while such as includes them. "Writers like Austen" could mean writers who resemble her; "writers such as Austen" includes her in the group.
Between two people or things, use alike after the verb: the twins look alike, not the twins look like.
Verb swaps: liked, likes and liking
- I like hiking becomes I enjoy hiking or I am into hiking in casual talk.
- She liked the proposal becomes she approved of the proposal or she was impressed by the proposal.
- He likes his coworkers becomes he gets along with his coworkers.
- I would like a refund becomes I would appreciate a refund.
- A liking for spicy food becomes a taste for spicy food or a fondness for spicy food.
Use love only when the feeling is strong, and admire when respect is part of it. The appreciate synonyms page covers the grateful sense.
Cutting like as a filler
In speech, like often fills a pause or means roughly: it was like ten dollars. In writing, replace it with a precise word or remove it. It cost about ten dollars. There were roughly fifty guests. The meeting ran for around an hour.
A text to a coworker: "The report is like almost done, like two pages left." A tidy version for a status email: "The report is nearly finished, with about two pages left."
Opposites of like
For comparisons, the opposite is unlike or different from; dissimilar to sounds technical. On the verb side, opposites include dislike, the milder choice, and hate, the strongest.
- Unlike her sister, Maya prefers quiet weekends.
- I dislike long phone calls.
Frequently asked questions
Which words replace like in an academic essay?
Use such as for examples and similar to or comparable to for comparisons. Before a full clause, use as or as if.
Is such as better than like?
For listing examples, such as is more precise and more formal. In casual writing, like is perfectly acceptable.
Which comparison word is most formal?
Akin to and comparable to are the most formal. Similar to is formal enough for nearly any report and sounds less stiff.
What is another word for like as a verb?
Enjoy, be fond of, appreciate and love are common. Enjoy is the safest swap for activities, and be fond of works for people, places and food.
Can I say as instead of like?
Yes, when a clause follows: do as I say. Do not use as before a single noun when you mean similar to; he runs like a deer is correct, he runs as a deer is not.
What is the opposite of like?
Unlike is the opposite for comparisons, and dislike is the opposite for the verb. Hate is a stronger form of dislike.