as in lightens
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 brightens
Niacinamide brightens the look of dark circles, while adenosine smooths the appearance of wrinkles over time.
—
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Mar. 2026
Creative courage grows with practice, as a nurturing New Moon brightens your 5th House of Inspiration and encourages self-expression through personal projects or other ways of letting off steam.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Your 11th House of Social Networks brightens as the intuitive Moon conjoins studious Mercury, so thoughtful outreach strengthens bonds and clarifies shared goals, especially within teams and community circles.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
Your 5th House of Discovery brightens as mischievous Mercury conjoins the life-giving Sun.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
L’Oréal’s Age Perfect Sunscreen tones, plumps, and brightens skin with collagen peptides and niacinamide, and the SPF 30 protects your skin from new signs of aging caused by sun exposure.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
As the weather brightens for both Burberry and Lee, the house has entered the 170th anniversary of its foundation by Thomas Burberry back in 1856.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
Self-expression softens and brightens as Mercury and free-loving Venus meet in your sign, centering self-appreciation.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The payoff is an antioxidant-rich anti-aging formula that plumps wrinkles, brightens skin, and smoothes texture while reducing inflammation.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 22 Mar. 2026
Creative courage grows with practice, as a nurturing New Moon brightens your 5th House of Inspiration and encourages self-expression through personal projects or other ways of letting off steam.
—Tarot.com, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2026
Your 11th House of Social Networks brightens as the intuitive Moon conjoins studious Mercury, so thoughtful outreach strengthens bonds and clarifies shared goals, especially within teams and community circles.
—Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 17 Mar. 2026
Your 5th House of Discovery brightens as mischievous Mercury conjoins the life-giving Sun.
—Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 7 Mar. 2026
L’Oréal’s Age Perfect Sunscreen tones, plumps, and brightens skin with collagen peptides and niacinamide, and the SPF 30 protects your skin from new signs of aging caused by sun exposure.
—Caley Sturgill, Southern Living, 6 Mar. 2026
As the weather brightens for both Burberry and Lee, the house has entered the 170th anniversary of its foundation by Thomas Burberry back in 1856.
—Luke Leitch, Vogue, 2 Mar. 2026
Self-expression softens and brightens as Mercury and free-loving Venus meet in your sign, centering self-appreciation.
—Tarot.com, The Orlando Sentinel, 28 Feb. 2026
The payoff is an antioxidant-rich anti-aging formula that plumps wrinkles, brightens skin, and smoothes texture while reducing inflammation.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 27 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightens
Verb
-
Gently rub until the spot lightens.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Playing off the conceptual revolution instigated by Duchamp (via Piero Manzoni and Maurizio Cattelan), Johnson’s tasty-looking treat lightens the mood and lets a viewer know to expect the unexpected in the galleries to follow.—
Benjamin Lima
Special Contributor,
Dallas Morning News,
24 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The robot carries a hose that glows in dark, smoky environments.—
Kurt Knutsson,
FOXNews.com,
17 Mar. 2026
-
Behind them, Guardian Angel Catholic Church in East Hollywood glows with worn blue plaster walls against the SoCal golden-hour sun.—
Isabela Raygoza,
Billboard,
13 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
Hollywood is pushing deeper into generative AI, and its latest move revives a major star.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Mar. 2026
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Meanwhile, its struggling personal computer and hardware segment could see a rebound this year, as the company revives its XPS brand and shifts strategy to expand its PC customer base and improve margins.—
Karoline Leonard,
Austin American Statesman,
18 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightens. Accessed 25 Mar. 2026.
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