Synonyms of brightened

brightened 1 of 2

adjective

as in illuminated

filled with much light

the brightened room is now a much more cheerful place for the recuperating patients

Synonyms & Similar Words

• illuminated
• illumined
• lit
• light
• bright
• alight
• highlighted
• lightsome
• shiny
• ablaze
• ignited
• spotlighted
• sunny
• kindled
• sunshiny
• sunlit
• moonlit
• floodlit

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• darkened
• dark
• blackened
• dimmed
• dusk
• dusky
• gloomy
• unlit
• somber
• lightless
• darkish
• darkling
• pitch-black
• pitch-dark
• obscured
• cloudy
• shadowy
• gray
• pale
• murky
• tenebrous
• leaden
• sunless
• shadowlike
• lightproof

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

• lightened
• glowed
• revived
• looked up
• cheered (up)
• encouraged
• sparkled
• perked (up)
• rejoiced
• beamed
• radiated
• bucked up
• gladdened
• heartened
• livened (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• darkened
• saddened
• despaired
• brooded
• fretted
• desponded
• moped

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of brightened

Verb

Soft yellow and tricolors of the French flag brightened the palette. — Rhonda Richford, Footwear News, 9 Oct. 2026

The green is equally luscious in texture, made with chicken thigh and skin, but intensely herbaceous, brightened with parsley, cilantro, poblano and jalapeño. — Jenn Harris, Los Angeles Times, 5 Oct. 2026

In its latest incarnation, designed by the firm S9, the curtain wall has darkened and the electronic billboards brightened, so that the tower resembles a TV mount, more apparatus than architecture. — Justin Davidson, Curbed, 1 Oct. 2026

In a hospital room brightened with pink balloons and flowers on Friday, the new parents were overcome with emotion. — ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026

With its Manuka honey heart, the scent is brightened by orange blossom and mandarin before settling into tonka, vanilla, and sandalwood. — Lauren Valenti, InStyle, 9 Sep. 2026

Hamilton’s city streets are brightened by more than 100 large-scale murals, a variety of different galleries, and a monthly art walk. — Maryam Siddiqi, Travel + Leisure, 9 Sep. 2026

On overcast afternoons, the sky often brightened as the evening wore on, as if the world were turning in reverse. — Holden Frith, TheWeek, 4 Sep. 2026

Around that time, the comet experienced a large outburst, which brightened it about 8,000 times. — Chelsea Gohd, Space.com, 12 Aug. 2026