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
Harry Bennett, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Kindling his broad grin and clean laughter brightened even the most discouraging day.
—Jim Moore, Outdoor Life, 8 Oct. 2025
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
Verb
Since its discovery, the comet has brightened in magnitude and is becoming more and more visible.
—Harry Bennett, Space.com, 8 Oct. 2025
Kindling his broad grin and clean laughter brightened even the most discouraging day.
—Jim Moore, Outdoor Life, 8 Oct. 2025
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
Saint Laurent, staged against the illuminated Eiffel Tower at night, delivered sheer theatricality, while Chanel transformed the Grand Palais into a galaxy, offering a spectacle as ambitious as the collection itself.—
Rhonda Richford,
Footwear News,
8 Oct. 2025
-
Today, those problems persist and are even more illuminated thanks to the government shutdown.—
Sydney Lake,
Fortune,
7 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
-
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
-
Philadelphia glowed with fresh patriotic spirit.—
Victoria Flexner,
The Atlantic,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The mountains glowed with golden light, evoking a sense of enchantment and possibility.—
Lisa Greissinger,
Travel + Leisure,
4 Oct. 2025
Verb
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It was revived post-COVID and, in 2023, the project was estimated to cost $10 to $15 million with a tentative completion date of late 2024 or sometime in 2025.—
Jolene Almendarez,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
9 Oct. 2025
-
The original production of Cats ran on Broadway from 1982 to 2000, and was revived in 2016.—
Caitlin Huston,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Their observations revealed an ULIRG hidden just behind the bright quasar, invisible to traditional optical telescopes.—
Bojan Stojkovski,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Oct. 2025
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The bright pink and green exterior of the secluded river lodge perfectly matched her and her fiancé's wedding colors.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
12 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The light sources, motors, and automation systems used for VistaVision are still compatible with the 70mm projectors.—
Brian Welk,
IndieWire,
14 Oct. 2025
-
While his storytelling approach is often light, Reynolds said he was struck by how much the video resonated globally.—
Melissa Fleur Afshar,
MSNBC Newsweek,
14 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 16 Oct. 2025.
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