brightened 1 of 2

brightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of brighten
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

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brightened
Verb
Rangel recalls people approaching him to say that seeing Osito had brightened an otherwise stressful day. ABC News, 19 June 2026 Since then, the star has brightened up her hair color for spring and summer, adding chunky blonde highlights to her chocolate brown color. Lara Walsh, InStyle, 14 June 2026 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
  • When the sun goes down, stake out a spot at any Magic Kingdom-area resort beach for the Electrical Water Pageant, a procession of illuminated sea creatures that floats across the lagoon every night.
    Jacqueline Dole, Southern Living, 23 June 2026
  • Seconds, that the union and the contractor’s association be allowed to place a smaller illuminated sign near the base of the Western Auto sign noting that the organizations had done the work.
    Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 17 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
  • While linen and silk are light and airy, some occasions call for a sturdier yet equally breathable option.
    Rachel Trujillo, PEOPLE, 26 June 2026
  • If your energy dips, take a brief stretch, then return to the task with a lighter touch and clearer purpose.
    Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 26 June 2026
Verb
  • After exposing the bones to a high-energy blue light, the team used an optical filter to see which of them glowed red.
    Sahas Mehra, Scientific American, 19 June 2026
  • The sandstone bowl of a stadium built in 1924 glowed gold.
    Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 13 June 2026
Adjective
  • Tree was recognizable for his bright fashion, mullet haircut with prominent bangs, thin mustache and encouraging outlook.
    Dennis Romero, NBC news, 22 June 2026
  • For starters, bright colors inject visibility – not merely for players looking to find each other amid the chaos of a World Cup match, but also for brands looking to draw the gazes of millions of onlooking fans towards their logo.
    Jack Bantock, CNN Money, 22 June 2026
Verb
  • The case remained unsolved until investigators revived it around 2017.
    Greg Wehner, FOXNews.com, 24 June 2026
  • Another selloff for SpaceX could lower its shares below the debut trading price of $150, and Swissquote analyst Ipek Ozkardeskaya told Reuters the company’s decision to open bond trading may have revived concerns that tech companies may be spending too much on AI infrastructure.
    Ty Roush, Forbes.com, 23 June 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 26 Jun. 2026.

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