as in to brighten
to become glad or hopeful
the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in to illumine
to supply with light
the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of lighten
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
The firm said some companies have started using AI agents, or custom bots, to lighten the summer scheduling load by handling basic correspondence, scheduling meetings and performing other administrative tasks while employees are on break.
—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
His workload was certainly lightened with the casting of Cayleigh Capaldi as his Maria.
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
Not the irony of having a skin-lightening condition (or predilection) while singlehandedly Blackening up the portals of pop music by integrating a music video network that upheld America's racist standard of (in)visibility.
—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lighten
Verb
Still, Yoon’s joking somehow lightens the mood.
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Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
The firm said some companies have started using AI agents, or custom bots, to lighten the summer scheduling load by handling basic correspondence, scheduling meetings and performing other administrative tasks while employees are on break.
—
Megan Cerullo,
CBS News,
8 June 2026
His workload was certainly lightened with the casting of Cayleigh Capaldi as his Maria.
—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
Not the irony of having a skin-lightening condition (or predilection) while singlehandedly Blackening up the portals of pop music by integrating a music video network that upheld America's racist standard of (in)visibility.
—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
See All Example Sentences for lighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lighten
Verb
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The electric blue shade adds such a fun pop of color to a summer wardrobe, instantly brightening up basics like white jeans, denim shorts, or neutral trousers.
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The Magic Cream is packed with powerhouse ingredients like hyaluronic acid and shea butter to deeply hydrate, and vitamins C and E to brighten and protect your skin.
Verb
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Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.
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Geraldine walked over to Felix and Jane’s for fish soup, through long autumn shadows in the park, haze rising like smoke from the grass, illumined by the low sun.
Verb
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The Strawberry Moon will soon illuminate the night sky, but don't expect the moon to look like an actual fruit.
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Forsythia is a bright, charming harbinger of spring, illuminating the dull gray winter landscape with its vibrant yellow blooms.
Verb
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No video evidence exists to show exactly how the Lachman fire started, much less that Rinderknecht was the one who lit the blaze.
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Opt for sconces and hanging lights, rather than lamps or lighting pieces that take up floorspace.
Cite this Entry
“Lighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lighten. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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