as in illuminated
filled with much light
the brightened room is now a much more cheerful place for the recuperating patients
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 May 2026
Queen Camilla brightened her wardrobe in a springtime Fiona Clare blue dress for a garden party at Hillsborough Castle on Wednesday in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Some regions have dramatically brightened due to urbanization and electrification, while others have dimmed because of energy-efficient lighting, economic decline, the effects of war or policy changes.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 20 May 2026
Fresh flowers picked from the Ward-Ziegler grounds and gardens always brightened the place.
—Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
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
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
Verb
The addition of vitamin C has noticeably brightened and evened out my skin tone.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 May 2026
Queen Camilla brightened her wardrobe in a springtime Fiona Clare blue dress for a garden party at Hillsborough Castle on Wednesday in Hillsborough, Northern Ireland.
—Julia Teti, Footwear News, 20 May 2026
Some regions have dramatically brightened due to urbanization and electrification, while others have dimmed because of energy-efficient lighting, economic decline, the effects of war or policy changes.
—Samantha Mathewson, Space.com, 20 May 2026
Fresh flowers picked from the Ward-Ziegler grounds and gardens always brightened the place.
—Nancy Vienneau, Southern Living, 17 May 2026
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
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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
Taking place at Del Mar Fairgrounds, this show will blend advanced drone choreography with the unforgettable music and iconic moments from the Harry Potter film series, featuring 1,200 illuminated drones soaring across the night sky.—
Ut Community Press,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
9 June 2026
-
Best Things to Do The Grandin Theatre Showing new and classic movies, The Grandin Theatre anchors the historic Grandin Village district with its dazzling art deco design and an illuminated marquee that transports visitors to the golden age of cinema.—
Julekha Dash,
Travel + Leisure,
6 June 2026
Verb
-
His workload was certainly lightened with the casting of Cayleigh Capaldi as his Maria.—
Christopher Smith,
Oc Register,
4 June 2026
-
Then struggling star Aaron Judge lightened their load with no outs in the ninth inning, lifting a long fly ball that just cleared the fence in right-center field and scoring pinch runner Max Schuemann.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
24 May 2026
Adjective
-
Five pockets, a mid-rise fit, and a polished-looking crossover design make this style stock-up-worthy in both the black and light washes.—
Olivia Cigliano,
InStyle,
11 June 2026
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The chicken is what transforms it from a lighter salad into a complete, satisfying meal that actually holds you over.—
Jennifer Klump,
Verywell Health,
11 June 2026
Verb
-
The lab glowed like a jewel in the distance, and around him bioluminescent plankton shone like stars.—
Susan Cosier,
Scientific American,
6 June 2026
-
May's full Blue Moon put on a dazzling display over the weekend, flooding the night sky with moonlight as the red supergiant star Antares glowed nearby.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
1 June 2026
Adjective
-
Ex-Arsenal player Héctor Bellerín wore bright pink on the Louis Vuitton catwalk in 2019, while Real Madrid’s Eduardo Camavinga walked for Balenciaga in 2022.—
Sheena McKenzie,
CNN Money,
7 June 2026
-
Deneb is the brightest star in the constellation Cygnus the Swan.—
Mike Lynch,
Twin Cities,
7 June 2026
Verb
-
This is the Chinese chorizo, a 19th-century staple born of necessity, currently being revived.—
Danielle Bauter,
Oc Register,
10 June 2026
-
With blisters on their feet and sunburnt shoulders, hundreds from across the Bay Area ended their 50-mile trek Monday outside FCI Dublin, where fears are mounting the shuttered women’s prison could be revived as an immigration detention facility despite federal denials.—
Chase Hunter,
Mercury News,
9 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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