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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Recent Examples of brighten
Sleep mask ingredients are designed to help hydrate, clear breakouts, resurface, or brighten the skin.
—
Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025
Furthermore, alpha hydroxy acid—citric acid, to be exact—adds a little exfoliation to the mix, sweeping away dead skin cells and excess oils while brightening the complexion and helping skin absorb other products like toners, serums, and moisturizers.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 June 2025
Additionally, peptides and niacinamide help protect against dark spots while brightening the skin and refining pores.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 13 June 2025
Adding color to your outdoor wardrobe can also brighten up your experience.
—Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Cristina Mutchler, Verywell Health, 9 June 2025
Furthermore, alpha hydroxy acid—citric acid, to be exact—adds a little exfoliation to the mix, sweeping away dead skin cells and excess oils while brightening the complexion and helping skin absorb other products like toners, serums, and moisturizers.
—Jennifer Hussein, Allure, 14 June 2025
Additionally, peptides and niacinamide help protect against dark spots while brightening the skin and refining pores.
—Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 13 June 2025
Adding color to your outdoor wardrobe can also brighten up your experience.
—Wendy Altschuler, Forbes.com, 13 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for brighten
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brighten
Verb
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This builds ownership on their end and lightens the emotional load on yours.—
Julia Korn,
Forbes.com,
24 June 2025
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Regular activity can also release mood-improving endorphins in the body and lead to weight loss, which can lighten the load on stressed joints.—
Emily Kay Votruba,
EverydayHealth.com,
20 June 2025
Verb
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The first Tron had played out as a series of face-offs featuring glowing figures against a black background, replicating the blank environment of an arcade screen.—
Bilge Ebiri,
Vulture,
27 June 2025
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Miguel and Angel were grinning maniacs standing in the middle of the set with their arms around each other’s shoulders, like ballplayers after a winning game surrounded by a circle of glowing fans.—
Helen Schulman,
The Atlantic,
26 June 2025
Verb
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Starbucks is bulking up staffing as Niccol pushes to revive sales in part by speeding up service.—
Glen Luke Flanagan,
Fortune,
30 June 2025
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Other small towns and villages across Italy have offered houses for as little as €1 to revive shrinking communities.—
Laura Begley Bloom,
Forbes.com,
30 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brighten. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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