as in illuminated
filled with much light
the brightened room is now a much more cheerful place for the recuperating patients
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lightened
to become glad or hopeful
the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brightened
Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
According to a new study that analyzed a combination of satellite images, artificial nighttime lights have brightened Earth by 16% between 2014 and 2022.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 6 May 2026
The filmmakers have lightened and brightened their source material to a kid-friendly degree — even the English countryside, as glisteningly shot by George Steel, has never looked less overcast.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The rich buttermilk ranch dressing is brightened by fresh lemon juice and zest, which balances the tang of buttermilk and sour cream with the savory herb notes of chives and basil.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Ancho chile and cayenne give a layered blend of heat while brightened up by caraway, cumin, and coriander.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
This is accompanied by a brightening of the comet, but 3I/ATLAS brightened even more than expected.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Imagine my surprise when MMskincare’s tinted Glow Guard Correct Eye Creamimmediately brightened my under eyes with more efficacy than a color corrector.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 14 Apr. 2026
Even the interest rate outlook brightened this week, with fed funds futures suddenly pricing in at least one cut by the end of the year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Verb
Instead, the data revealed a planet in flux where areas brightened explosively in one year and dimmed sharply the next; regions flickered in rhythms tied to oil booms, armed conflicts, and pandemic lockdowns.
—Bree Shirvell, Hartford Courant, 12 May 2026
According to a new study that analyzed a combination of satellite images, artificial nighttime lights have brightened Earth by 16% between 2014 and 2022.
—Janet Loehrke, USA Today, 6 May 2026
The filmmakers have lightened and brightened their source material to a kid-friendly degree — even the English countryside, as glisteningly shot by George Steel, has never looked less overcast.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The rich buttermilk ranch dressing is brightened by fresh lemon juice and zest, which balances the tang of buttermilk and sour cream with the savory herb notes of chives and basil.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Ancho chile and cayenne give a layered blend of heat while brightened up by caraway, cumin, and coriander.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
This is accompanied by a brightening of the comet, but 3I/ATLAS brightened even more than expected.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Imagine my surprise when MMskincare’s tinted Glow Guard Correct Eye Creamimmediately brightened my under eyes with more efficacy than a color corrector.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 14 Apr. 2026
Even the interest rate outlook brightened this week, with fed funds futures suddenly pricing in at least one cut by the end of the year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
Because a bright sky helps subdue Venus's glare, this is a good time to inspect the planet telescopically, though its gibbous disk remains rather small and approximately seven-eighths illuminated.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
Facade and interior of a pharmacy (pharmacie) with green illuminated sign, display windows and sales area visible through the windows in Paris, France, on March 19, 2026.—
Pooja Mistry,
Forbes.com,
18 May 2026
Verb
-
Nagatitan belonged to a subgroup of sauropods that possessed bones with lots of internal air sacs and thin walls, traits that lightened their skeletons.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
15 May 2026
-
Think Snake River Farms beef dashed with huckleberry, steelhead larb, Basque tortillas and churros lightened with potato flour — but expect the sharable menu to change regularly.—
Mark Dee,
Idaho Statesman,
14 May 2026
Verb
-
The Grammy-winning R&B singer, 39, glowed in an all-white ERL suit, which combined a puffy, floor-length jacket with a retro-style shirt and enlarged bow tie.—
Edward Segarra,
USA Today,
4 May 2026
-
Feldstein glowed in a pink lacy dress, smiling as her wife Roberts placed a hand on her stomach.—
Hannah Sacks,
PEOPLE,
4 May 2026
Verb
-
Lamm told The New York Post that the company believes the moa could return by the early 2030s, while the dodo could be revived within four or five years.—
Sophia Compton,
FOXNews.com,
19 May 2026
-
Strong starred in the production of the Arthur Miller play as it was revived in London and later on Broadway.—
Lexi Lane,
PEOPLE,
17 May 2026
Adjective
-
Made from a breathable, sweat-wicking fabric, these versatile pants are perfect for light activities like long walks, warm-ups, running errands, and busy travel days.—
Caroline Hughes,
Travel + Leisure,
20 May 2026
-
All rooms feature wheelchair-accessible doors, lowered peepholes, light switches, and closet door handles; a roll-in shower or tub with grab bars; and teletypewriters and telecommunications devices available upon request.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
20 May 2026
Adjective
-
Because a bright sky helps subdue Venus's glare, this is a good time to inspect the planet telescopically, though its gibbous disk remains rather small and approximately seven-eighths illuminated.—
Joe Rao,
Space.com,
18 May 2026
-
The trick is not to chase every bright idea.—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
17 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 22 May. 2026.
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