Answer: identifying

AnswerCrossword Clue
identifyingAssociate (someone) closely with; regard (someone) as having strong links with
identifyingIDENTIFY, to establish the identity of
identifyingEquate (someone or something) with
identifyingRecognize or distinguish (esp. something considered worthy of attention)
identifyingEstablish or indicate who or what (someone or something) is
identifyingRegard oneself as sharing the same characteristics or thinking as someone else