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
Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
The fireworks that lit up the sky afterward brightened an otherwise dreary night as the Mustangs turned three first-half Hornets turnovers into 11 points, punctuated by a 23-yard interception return into the end zone by Brian Dukes Jr.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
By all indications, the first full day at the San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 went without a hitch Tuesday, with smooth check-in and security zones, bustling concession stands, speedy baggage claim and airy spaces that brightened the moods of travelers.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
In Pynchon’s best works, his bleakness is brightened, in both senses—illuminated and made lighter—by the sweep of his vision and his affection for his fallible, foolhardy, well-meaning, wildly outmatched main characters.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Despite the unwanted result, the TikTok video brightened people's day.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The agent brightened, having noticed something in my file.
—Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Discovered in January, the green comet has brightened faster than predicted in recent weeks and now looks set to be visible from dark rural skies during October 2025.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Or tender, juicy mojo pork marinated with savory cumin and cilantro, and brightened with zesty lime and orange juices.
—Martie Bowser, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Verb
Defensive end Anthony Smith said his eyes brightened as ball shot backwards.
—Andy Greder, Twin Cities, 29 Sep. 2025
The fireworks that lit up the sky afterward brightened an otherwise dreary night as the Mustangs turned three first-half Hornets turnovers into 11 points, punctuated by a 23-yard interception return into the end zone by Brian Dukes Jr.
—Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 28 Sep. 2025
By all indications, the first full day at the San Diego International Airport’s new Terminal 1 went without a hitch Tuesday, with smooth check-in and security zones, bustling concession stands, speedy baggage claim and airy spaces that brightened the moods of travelers.
—Roxana Popescu, San Diego Union-Tribune, 24 Sep. 2025
In Pynchon’s best works, his bleakness is brightened, in both senses—illuminated and made lighter—by the sweep of his vision and his affection for his fallible, foolhardy, well-meaning, wildly outmatched main characters.
—Kathryn Schulz, New Yorker, 22 Sep. 2025
Despite the unwanted result, the TikTok video brightened people's day.
—Liz O'Connell, MSNBC Newsweek, 18 Sep. 2025
The agent brightened, having noticed something in my file.
—Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Discovered in January, the green comet has brightened faster than predicted in recent weeks and now looks set to be visible from dark rural skies during October 2025.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Or tender, juicy mojo pork marinated with savory cumin and cilantro, and brightened with zesty lime and orange juices.
—Martie Bowser, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
While the skyscraper's exterior has already become an illuminated ornament on Detroit's skyline, the interior isn't yet finished, and the hotel and condos aren't expected until 2027.—
JC Reindl,
Freep.com,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Hypersonic cruise vehicles that operate below about 30 km (19 miles) wouldn’t create such large, illuminated plumes, and terminal dives wouldn’t produce extensive, bright displays that could be seen over a wide area.—
Kapil Kajal,
Interesting Engineering,
1 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Such comparisons are too easily drawn, with too much self-righteousness, as though the guilt for what was done to the Jews could be lightened just a little by likening them to their own murderers.—
Ian Buruma,
New Yorker,
22 Sep. 2025
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The earlier layoff constituted 8% of staff, which will mean Lionsgate will have lightened its head count by 13% when this round of downsizing is done.—
Mike Fleming Jr,
Deadline,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
As Virgin Voyages' new stage show began, pink neon letters spelling out a woman's name glowed brightly in the low lights.—
Nathan Diller,
USA Today,
29 Sep. 2025
-
In the last few seconds her palm glowed red, and then the light disappeared.—
Rachel Seo,
Variety,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The label was only recently revived in 2018 and has released a new bottle every year since.—
Melinda Salchert,
Southern Living,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Although abandoned after Edward Hubble confirmed the universe’s ongoing expansion in 1929, physicists later revived the cosmological constant with both positive and negative valuations depending on their theory.—
Andrew Paul,
Popular Science,
1 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The Andromeda Galaxy can be found less than 10 degrees to the upper left of Mirach — the brightest star in the Andromeda constellation — in the hours following sunset in late September.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
28 Sep. 2025
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More Ishika Samant/Getty Images This is obviously a very disappointing result as Nabers is one of the bright young superstars in the entire NFL.—
Mark Kern,
MSNBC Newsweek,
28 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Use light dumbbells, resistance bands, or your body weight and perform 8 to 12 reps for each of major muscle group.—
Sherri Gordon,
Health,
2 Oct. 2025
-
Impact beyond consumer devices The benefits of lighter and more energy-dense batteries could go far beyond phones and drones.—
Sujita Sinha,
Interesting Engineering,
2 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 6 Oct. 2025.
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