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
Venus conjoins Jupiter in Cancer, brightening your 3rd House of Communication with warmth, sincerity, and useful connection.
—
Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
These mophead hydrangeas bloom in either neon purple or raspberry red—perfect for brightening up the yard in a flash.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
Sunlight colors the water behind her, brightening a few strands of her hair.
—Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
The off-white wash feels especially fresh for spring, offering a softer alternative to stark white, while still brightening your wardrobe.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
No true irascible aging genius worth his salt is without a ready supply of white socks brightening up the chest of drawers.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
No garden is complete without the sunny faces of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) brightening the landscape.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
Other ingredients to look for include SPF, present in Supergoop’s formula, and vitamin C, a brightening agent that’s whipped into Nerrā’s dry oil.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 May 2026
Grab it in brightening pink or yellow shades, or go with the transparent option for a more flexible finish.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 22 May 2026
Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 9 June 2026
These mophead hydrangeas bloom in either neon purple or raspberry red—perfect for brightening up the yard in a flash.
—Steve Bender, Southern Living, 9 June 2026
Sunlight colors the water behind her, brightening a few strands of her hair.
—Thomas Lake, AJC.com, 4 June 2026
The off-white wash feels especially fresh for spring, offering a softer alternative to stark white, while still brightening your wardrobe.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 2 June 2026
No true irascible aging genius worth his salt is without a ready supply of white socks brightening up the chest of drawers.
—Guy Martin, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026
No garden is complete without the sunny faces of black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia) brightening the landscape.
—Samantha Johnson, Martha Stewart, 1 June 2026
Other ingredients to look for include SPF, present in Supergoop’s formula, and vitamin C, a brightening agent that’s whipped into Nerrā’s dry oil.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 27 May 2026
Grab it in brightening pink or yellow shades, or go with the transparent option for a more flexible finish.
—Olivia Cigliano, InStyle, 22 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightening
Verb
-
Not the irony of having a skin-lightening condition (or predilection) while singlehandedly Blackening up the portals of pop music by integrating a music video network that upheld America's racist standard of (in)visibility.—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
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The overall vibe is quiet luxury—rich, polished, and well-maintained, without over-lightening the hair.—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Cellphone footage shows two glowing red orbs floating across the sky.—
Collin Binkley,
Fortune,
15 June 2026
-
Speaking about the division race during the teams series this week, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns offered a glowing assessment of the rival club that has become one of the National League’s toughest opponents.—
Peter Chawaga,
Forbes.com,
14 June 2026
Verb
-
By many accounts, reviving Barneys New York requires a merchant leader who can do justice to the legacy; building a talented creative team, and specifically on Madison Avenue, the willingness to meet the high costs of a luxury retail start-up.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
11 June 2026
-
But the rupiah’s latest slide is reviving memories the market would rather forget.—
William Pesek,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightening. Accessed 16 Jun. 2026.
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