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
Grace McCarty, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
The victory brightened Mathews’ mood.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
New Line has once again brightened up to the idea of a sequel to its 2016 supernatural horror hit Lights Out.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
The imposing exterior, made of natural Caribbean limestone and coral stone, is brightened up with turquoise gates and terrace railing.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
In the 2010s, her beauty brightened, from blue eyeshadow and powder blush at New York City Ballet’s Spring 2013 Gala to a bright red lip matching her nails at the 2019 MTV Video Awards.
—Essence, 18 Mar. 2026
Head to higher elevations above 2,000 feet where there is more moisture to see slopes brightened with desert lily, sand verbena and flowering Orcutt’s woody aster.
—Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Here, her glossy bronde is brightened by traces of copper.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
Chunks of meat slowly braise until fork-tender in a hearty broth brightened by tomato and spiked with stout ale.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Verb
But even during the dreariest days of March, our beauty and wellness rituals brightened up our routines.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
The victory brightened Mathews’ mood.
—Dan Albano, Oc Register, 28 Mar. 2026
New Line has once again brightened up to the idea of a sequel to its 2016 supernatural horror hit Lights Out.
—Borys Kit, HollywoodReporter, 27 Mar. 2026
The imposing exterior, made of natural Caribbean limestone and coral stone, is brightened up with turquoise gates and terrace railing.
—Tori Latham, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2026
In the 2010s, her beauty brightened, from blue eyeshadow and powder blush at New York City Ballet’s Spring 2013 Gala to a bright red lip matching her nails at the 2019 MTV Video Awards.
—Essence, 18 Mar. 2026
Head to higher elevations above 2,000 feet where there is more moisture to see slopes brightened with desert lily, sand verbena and flowering Orcutt’s woody aster.
—Jessie Schiewe, Los Angeles Times, 17 Mar. 2026
Here, her glossy bronde is brightened by traces of copper.
—Ariel Wodarcyk, InStyle, 11 Mar. 2026
Chunks of meat slowly braise until fork-tender in a hearty broth brightened by tomato and spiked with stout ale.
—Lynda Balslev, Mercury News, 10 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
Glover, for instance, was particularly captivated by the jagged topography along the moon’s terminator, the dividing line between its illuminated side and the side cloaked in darkness.—
Denise Chow,
NBC news,
7 Apr. 2026
-
On the illuminated side of Earth, clouds are visible over Australia and Oceania, while the dark side is in nighttime.—
Jacopo Prisco,
CNN Money,
7 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Your family will never know that this casserole is lightened-up for a healthier spin on the classic dinner dish.—
Patricia S York,
Southern Living,
1 Apr. 2026
-
Before the show, her hair was lightened to a sparkling blonde by Jacob Schwartz using Schwarzkopf Professional.—
Kara Jillian Brown,
InStyle,
16 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Steinfeld glowed in a gorgeous peachy-pink Prada gown covered in silver studs.—
Christina Perrier,
InStyle,
2 Apr. 2026
-
Tournament logos glowed on the massive video boards mounted on either side of the building, a constant reminder that a new phase of the season has begun.—
Emily Adams,
Hartford Courant,
21 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The state Department of Environmental Management revived the plan in 1991, due in no small part to the energy of senior planner Ginny Leslie.—
Alex Kuffner,
The Providence Journal,
6 Apr. 2026
-
The new pope revived traditions including greeting worshipers in 10 languages and carrying the cross on Good Friday, signaling departures from recent papal practice.—
Colleen Barry,
Los Angeles Times,
5 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Each bite had a creamy, savory center and a light crunch that never felt greasy.—
Evan Moore,
Charlotte Observer,
9 Apr. 2026
-
Favorable weather is expected with light winds and moderate seas.—
William Harwood,
CBS News,
9 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
The ground floor is almost entirely devoted to the bright main restaurant and bar.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
6 Apr. 2026
-
Situated on a parcel of what was once bright-green Iowa pasture, our supercomputing facility may not look like much.—
Jed Feiman,
New Yorker,
6 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 10 Apr. 2026.
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