Synonyms of brightens

brightens

verb

present tense third-person singular of brighten

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• lightens
• glows
• revives
• looks up
• cheers (up)
• encourages
• perks (up)
• rejoices
• sparkles
• radiates
• bucks up
• beams
• gladdens
• heartens
• livens (up)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• darkens
• saddens
• despairs
• broods
• frets
• desponds
• mopes

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of brightens

There’s also caffeine, which brightens a tired-looking complexion and helps offset puffy undereyes. — Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 18 Sep. 2026

Your 11th House of Friends and Community brightens, encouraging you to reconnect with allies and contribute your inventive angle. — Tarot.com, Baltimore Sun, 16 Sep. 2026

The background star gradually brightens and then fades as the two stars move out of alignment. — Thomas Fauchez, The Conversation, 14 Sep. 2026

Along with many of the brand’s red light therapy tools, this device helps minimize fine lines and wrinkles, brightens your complexion, and, well, makes your skin look better. — Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 1 Sep. 2026

And as a lamp lights up a dark room, our faithfulness to God brightens the path for others, including government officials, to be more faithful, too. — The Christian Science Monitor, Christian Science Monitor, 1 Sep. 2026

Its dewy coverage gives cheeks a bright, doll-like, natural flush that highlights the cheekbones and brightens complexions. — Irene Richardson, InStyle, 1 Aug. 2026

Saturated without feeling loud, the playful hue transforms the Moss table and chairs into a statement set that brightens the whole room (though a natural Birch finish is also available for color skeptics). — Vy Yang, Architectural Digest, 31 July 2026

The forecast comes as noctilucent clouds are being seen in the northern hemisphere, a comet brightens and two meteor showers peak — just weeks before a total solar eclipse, for which solar eclipse glasses are required. — Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 31 July 2026