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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Recent Examples of brightening
If your grout isn't horrendous with dirt or stains, this might be a great cleaner for brightening the lines.
—
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
Lastly, citrus peel helps with collagen and elastin production in addition to brightening dull under-eyes.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
25 June 2026
The electric blue shade adds such a fun pop of color to a summer wardrobe, instantly brightening up basics like white jeans, denim shorts, or neutral trousers.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
24 June 2026
Try a low stakes upgrade by brightening your profile photo, helping a simple hello travel farther right now.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
With a steadily brightening Sun, when does the Earth either get too hot or too CO2-starved for the base of the food chain to survive?
—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
With ingredients like pumice and 10% AHA (in the form of skin-brightening glycolic and lactic acids), the product effectively banishes dead skin and smooths out uneven sandpaper-like texture on the body.
—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
14 June 2026
Venus conjoins Jupiter in Cancer, brightening your 3rd House of Communication with warmth, sincerity, and useful connection.
—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
Sunlight colors the water behind her, brightening a few strands of her hair.
—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Ashlyn Needham,
Southern Living,
25 June 2026
Lastly, citrus peel helps with collagen and elastin production in addition to brightening dull under-eyes.
—
Tamim Alnuweiri,
InStyle,
25 June 2026
The electric blue shade adds such a fun pop of color to a summer wardrobe, instantly brightening up basics like white jeans, denim shorts, or neutral trousers.
—
Rosie Marder,
Travel + Leisure,
24 June 2026
Try a low stakes upgrade by brightening your profile photo, helping a simple hello travel farther right now.
—
Tarot.com,
Sun Sentinel,
15 June 2026
With a steadily brightening Sun, when does the Earth either get too hot or too CO2-starved for the base of the food chain to survive?
—
Scott K. Johnson,
ArsTechnica,
15 June 2026
With ingredients like pumice and 10% AHA (in the form of skin-brightening glycolic and lactic acids), the product effectively banishes dead skin and smooths out uneven sandpaper-like texture on the body.
—
Cheryl Fenton,
Parents,
14 June 2026
Venus conjoins Jupiter in Cancer, brightening your 3rd House of Communication with warmth, sincerity, and useful connection.
—
Tarot.com,
Chicago Tribune,
9 June 2026
Sunlight colors the water behind her, brightening a few strands of her hair.
—
Thomas Lake,
AJC.com,
4 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightening
Verb
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Hydrogen peroxide is great for lightening stains in general.
-
Get bangs like no other and still avoid bulk with the help of lightening layers.
Verb
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Aemond, without his eyepatch and his artificial eye glowing eerily, does find satisfaction.
-
The best antiaging devices have the latest technology to give you glowing, radiant skin at home.
Verb
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And the coupon hunt is reviving the nostalgia of print coupons as old-school bargain-hunting culture has made its way to the internet.
-
The clip became fresh ammunition for critics of MMA's weight-cut culture, reviving calls for tighter fight-week monitoring, rehydration limits, or additional weight classes.
Cite this Entry
“Brightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightening. Accessed 30 Jun. 2026.
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