as in lightening
to become glad or hopeful
the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career
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Recent Examples of brightening
Gerdes loves to work silver foliage plants like dusty miller (Jacobaea maritima) into containers, their light, shimmery leaves brightening up the garden.
—
Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2025
Chicken and rice is a satisfying choice for brightening anyone's day.
—Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
In the slowly brightening light about a half-hour before sunrise Sunday at Del Mar Racetrack, a jockey wearing a white windbreaker climbed aboard a bay 3-year-old colt for the first time.
—Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Sitake says the most rewarding team meetings are discussions around the smallest of gestures, brightening the days of others.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Writers need time to get to know their stars’ strengths, even if those stars have been brightening our screens for decades.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Complete your skincare routine by shopping for more Meaningful Beauty products, including de-puffing eye masks and a brightening vitamin C serum, while these Amazon October Prime Day discounts last.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
There’s a brightening serum to keep your skin glowing long after vacation, a color-protecting shampoo to help maintain your summer highlights, and a gourmand fragrance with notes of sweet vanilla and earthy amber that linger on skin like a warm hug.
—Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 1 Oct. 2025
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Four-Star Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is brightening the seasons throughout the year with a series of special events.
—Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Miranda Crowell, Better Homes & Gardens, 27 Oct. 2025
Chicken and rice is a satisfying choice for brightening anyone's day.
—Emma Ashe, Southern Living, 27 Oct. 2025
In the slowly brightening light about a half-hour before sunrise Sunday at Del Mar Racetrack, a jockey wearing a white windbreaker climbed aboard a bay 3-year-old colt for the first time.
—Jay Posner, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Oct. 2025
Sitake says the most rewarding team meetings are discussions around the smallest of gestures, brightening the days of others.
—Christopher Kamrani, New York Times, 17 Oct. 2025
Writers need time to get to know their stars’ strengths, even if those stars have been brightening our screens for decades.
—Ben Travers, IndieWire, 13 Oct. 2025
Complete your skincare routine by shopping for more Meaningful Beauty products, including de-puffing eye masks and a brightening vitamin C serum, while these Amazon October Prime Day discounts last.
—Izzy Baskette, PEOPLE, 8 Oct. 2025
There’s a brightening serum to keep your skin glowing long after vacation, a color-protecting shampoo to help maintain your summer highlights, and a gourmand fragrance with notes of sweet vanilla and earthy amber that linger on skin like a warm hug.
—Sarah Kinonen, Allure, 1 Oct. 2025
Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Fairmont Hotel Vancouver Four-Star Fairmont Hotel Vancouver is brightening the seasons throughout the year with a series of special events.
—Carolyn Heller, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightening
Verb
-
Despite being adopted a couple of years ago, the reform continues to be a lightening rod for French politics, with both the left and the far-right calling for its amendment, if not its repeal altogether.—
Charlotte Reed,
CNBC,
8 Oct. 2025
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While these are better at lightening than cleaning stains, a soak can help keep mugs stain-free.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 Sep. 2025
Verb
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Charged particles from the sun interact with gases in the Earth’s atmosphere, causing stunning northern lights, or glowing curtains of green, red and purple light that ripple across the sky.—
Briana Waxman,
CNN Money,
12 Nov. 2025
-
Traverse down glowing light tunnels to synchronized Christmas music.—
Caroline Ritzie,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
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Biden was even less enthusiastic about reviving international economic institutions.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Nov. 2025
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The latest beat-and-raise quarter from Danaher is reviving Wall Street's hopes for the stock.—
Natasha Abellard,
CNBC,
5 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightening. Accessed 19 Nov. 2025.
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