BRIGHTEN Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

brighten

verb

ˈbrī-tᵊn

Definition of brighten

as in to lighten

to become glad or hopeful the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career

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Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of brighten That’s why this skin tint, which has hydrating squalane along with brightening vitamin C and SPF for sun protection made my list. — Jacqueline Tempera, InStyle, 24 Sep. 2026 Hydrogen peroxide brightens whites and removes stains without damaging fabric like bleach. — Daley Quinn, Southern Living, 24 Sep. 2026 And if your shower’s grout lines don’t need to be replaced, brighten them with baking soda and water. — Michelle Mastro, The Spruce, 20 Sep. 2026 The solid showing brightens the outlook two weeks before the Sun Belt opener. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for brighten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten

Verb

The service is not suitable for very fine hair or hair that has been heavily bleached or lightened.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026
But lightening the blame hits a road bump with the word prevention.

— Marie Lisette Rimer, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026

Definition of lighten

Verb

Acupressure targets specific points, including spots roughly a finger’s length below your pupils and beside your nose, which NuFace says can promote a glowing complexion by improving circulation.

— Samantha Agate, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Frøya takes a botanical route to glow and tone instead, leaning on sea buckthorn and rosehip instead.

— Miami Herald, Miami Herald, 1 Oct. 2026

Definition of glow

Verb

Founding members Scherzinger, Wyatt and Roberts revived PCD earlier this year following a brief reunion as a quintet in 2019.

— Gil Kaufman, Billboard, 28 Sep. 2026
The full cycle of forming a spore and then reviving it came to nearly 10 billion ATP molecules, one of the most expensive things a bacterium ever does.

— Canan Karakoç, The Conversation, 28 Sep. 2026

Definition of revive

Browse Nearby Words

bright

brighten

brightened

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“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 4 Oct. 2026.

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Synonyms of brighten

verb

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