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
Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Despite Martin’s rough start in the job, the party’s spirits had brightened considerably after November 4, when Democrats scored double-digit wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Share this with friends who need their day brightened.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
The tomato broth should be aromatic and sippable, often brightened with white wine, fennel, and fragrant herbs.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
An early morning may be brightened with a cup of chai, which is rich in caffeine and has bold, spiced flavors.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 20 Jan. 2026
The flood of geopolitical headlines to start 2026 has brightened the outlook for gold and silver, even after last year’s massive run-up for all precious metals.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Leighton Meester brightened things up in a custom strapless Miu Miu column gown fully hand-embroidered with lavender paillettes and crystals.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Similar to cherry mocha, Kaeding says a wine brunette will have that dark base that is slightly brightened by a deeper red or copper tint.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
Verb
Her ability to observe and relate her observations and insights with clarity brightened the pages of various publications over many years.
—Lisa Boone, Los Angeles Times, 11 Feb. 2026
Despite Martin’s rough start in the job, the party’s spirits had brightened considerably after November 4, when Democrats scored double-digit wins in the Virginia and New Jersey governor’s races.
—Mark Leibovich, The Atlantic, 11 Feb. 2026
Share this with friends who need their day brightened.
—Ronnie Li, USA Today, 5 Feb. 2026
The tomato broth should be aromatic and sippable, often brightened with white wine, fennel, and fragrant herbs.
—Becky Duffett, Bon Appetit Magazine, 27 Jan. 2026
An early morning may be brightened with a cup of chai, which is rich in caffeine and has bold, spiced flavors.
—Ayesha Gulzar, Verywell Health, 20 Jan. 2026
The flood of geopolitical headlines to start 2026 has brightened the outlook for gold and silver, even after last year’s massive run-up for all precious metals.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 14 Jan. 2026
Leighton Meester brightened things up in a custom strapless Miu Miu column gown fully hand-embroidered with lavender paillettes and crystals.
—Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 11 Jan. 2026
Similar to cherry mocha, Kaeding says a wine brunette will have that dark base that is slightly brightened by a deeper red or copper tint.
—Audrey Noble, Vogue, 31 Dec. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
The 2,800-square-foot Southport store features a hot chocolate cafe and a wall of chocolate featuring small boxes with a dizzying variety of flavors, from Pistachio & Raspberry to Orange Marmalade, which sell for $8 each or three for $20, according to the illuminated sign above the display.—
Robert Channick,
Chicago Tribune,
13 Feb. 2026
-
None of the illuminated material is ionized; it’s merely lit up by the central star’s light that gets reflected off of all of the ejecta.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
11 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The crowds have lightened over the decades, but the game endures.—
Joe Davidson,
Sacbee.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
McGregor says, having swapped the black finish for an earthy green that lightened the visual weight of the piece.—
Julia Harrison,
Architectural Digest,
22 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
The actress, also sharing the laughter, glowed in a sleeveless black dress layered with necklaces and bracelets, leaning in with a warm smile — the vibe appeared to be relaxed, romantic and very much coupled up.—
Stephanie Giang-Paunon,
FOXNews.com,
12 Feb. 2026
-
The festivities began with a tea reception at the Hotel Chelsea, where the storied hallways glowed with lamplight.—
Anna Grace Lee,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Queen Camilla revived wintery whites in a Fiona Clare coat for the brisk temperatures during her latest public royal engagement, visiting different sites in Bath, England, on Tuesday.—
Julia Teti,
Footwear News,
17 Feb. 2026
-
The style was actually originally introduced back in 2002, but has now been revived and updated in a variety of new colorways, and also comes in a new mini size.—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
17 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The decision will rid Air Force One and other airplanes used by the executive branch of their light-blue color scheme established during the Kennedy administration in the early 1960s.—
David Zimmermann,
The Washington Examiner,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The 750-seat Moody supplied an apt balance of sonic presence and spaciousness, although in a hall with such strong bass response the double basses could have used lighter touches.—
Scott Cantrell,
Dallas Morning News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Keep your flowers in a location that is bright but avoid direct sunlight, and keep them away from drafts, or entryways where large temperature fluctuations are likely.—
Heather Zidack,
Hartford Courant,
15 Feb. 2026
-
Instead of blasting its outer layers into space in a bright explosion, its inner core appears to have collapsed inward completely, forming a black hole directly.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
15 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 19 Feb. 2026.
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