liknende

Liknende is a Norwegian adjective meaning "similar" or "resembling." It is used to describe objects, traits, or situations that share characteristics with another thing. The term is most common before a noun (attributive use), for example: liknende trekk (similar features), liknende farger (similar colors), liknende tilfeller (similar cases). It can also appear in phrases indicating resemblance with a following predicate or in phrases like “fenomenene viser liknende trekk” (the phenomena show similar traits).

In usage, liknende helps to express comparison without claiming exact equality. It is often employed in descriptive writing, scientific contexts, and everyday speech to signal partial similarity rather than sameness. The word is flexible across registers and can be combined with various nouns to convey degrees of likeness.

Etymology and related forms: liknende is formed from the idea of likeness, drawing on the verb å ligne (to resemble) and the adjective lik (similar), with the participial suffix -ende to create a descriptive modifier. It is used in contemporary Norwegian, including both Bokmål and nynorsk variants. Cognates exist in other Scandinavian languages, such as Swedish liknande and Danish lignende, reflecting a common Germanic heritage of the concept of resemblance.

See also: lik, lignende (cognates in related languages), tilsvarende, sammenlignbar.