lightened 1 of 3

adjective

1
as in illuminated

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2
as in eased

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lightened

2 of 3

verb (1)

past tense of lighten
as in brightened
to become glad or hopeful the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lightened

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of lighten
as in illumined
to supply with light the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of lightened
Adjective
Instead, Guarnaschelli recommends color drenching the ceiling in darker rooms, either with the same color or a slightly lightened shade. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 New photos show the singer with lightened hair. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 28 May 2026 Robinson added 17 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and a block, and both Mikal Bridges (23 minutes) and Josh Hart (28) saw lightened workloads as the Knicks made quick work of the Bulls on Friday. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026 Only two of the eight wives this season are blonde, a stark difference from season one wherein all but one had highlights, lightened hair, or full-on bleach jobs. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
Almost every area of the AMR26 has been refined or lightened. — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Yamamoto’s gem not only set up the Dodgers for the win but also lightened the load on a bullpen tasked with covering Game 2. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026 Hinduism is a narrative religion; its mercurial wisdom is lightened and sweetened by stories, softened by ambiguities, sharpened by paradoxes. — Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026 The sweetness of vanilla is contrasted with sharp musk and sandalwood and lightened with fresh jasmine. — Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 23 June 2026 Congress has since lightened some of the harsh mandatory penalties that applied to Bailey and others convicted back in the 1990s. — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 23 June 2026 His workload was certainly lightened with the casting of Cayleigh Capaldi as his Maria. — Christopher Smith, Oc Register, 4 June 2026 Meats and cheeses are often thought of as dense and heavy ingredients, but this pasta salad is lightened by lemon juice, basil, and red bell peppers. — Nellah Bailey McGough, Southern Living, 22 May 2026 Nagatitan belonged to a subgroup of sauropods that possessed bones with lots of internal air sacs and thin walls, traits that lightened their skeletons. — Reuters, NBC news, 15 May 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightened
  1. illuminated
  2. eased
  3. brightened
  4. illumined
  5. dazzling
  6. decreased
  7. lit
  8. shiny
Adjective
  • Several speakers, including some as young as 10, told the City Council that the illuminated sports fields were needed for Davis’ young athletes.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
  • But with those distinctive, and complex, twin-star-design LED headlights, accentuated by lovely rose-gold detailing and more illuminated Maybach logos, the vehicle does have a stronger, more individual face.
    — Howard Walker, Robb Report, 29 July 2026
Definition of illuminated
Adjective
  • Real estate developers are already cautiously planning to take advantage of the eased regulations and plan to announce new projects after the law goes into effect.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
  • Despite the eased restrictions, Rader is still only allowed out of his 8-foot-by-10-foot cell for one hour a day, five days a week.
    — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of eased
Verb
  • Kristin opened her mouth a little, not to speak, and the angel brightened, and the man’s voice got farther away.
    — Gabriel Winslow-Yost, New Yorker, 30 July 2026
  • Much of the route ran beside a long wall covered in street art, which brightened the otherwise industrial surroundings.
    — David Nikel, Forbes.com, 21 July 2026
Definition of brightened
Verb
  • Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Definition of illumined
Adjective
  • Katy Perry dons a dazzling tie as part of her ensemble while performing in Malta on July 22.
    — People Staff, PEOPLE, 25 July 2026
  • Its dazzling design, inside and out, reflected a fresh blend of European and American luxury.
    — Irene S. Levine, Forbes.com, 25 July 2026
Definition of dazzling
Adjective
  • He was slowed early in his recovery from a knee injury and then saw a decreased role in the rotation in the last month, playing only seven minutes in three tournament games.
    — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
  • Just like in humans, salmonella exposure can sicken pets, causing lethargy, bloody diarrhea, vomiting, fever and a decreased appetite.
    — Jeremy Tanner, The Hill, 2 Mar. 2026
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • If The Odyssey lit the fuse, Spider-Man is the looming detonation.
    — Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 30 July 2026
  • An element of the proposal that led many to advocate for City Council approval was a 17-acre community park featuring a playground, indoor gym, lighted sports fields, pickleball courts and a dog park.
    — Daniel Lempres, Sacbee.com, 30 July 2026
Definition of lit
Adjective
  • As for her companion, the Kens of the collection adhere to a typical gala dress code in their red satin jackets, collared shirts, shiny dress shoes, and bow ties.
    — Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 29 July 2026
  • If your legs are tired from walking, hop on the shiny green Balboa Park Tram.
    — Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 29 July 2026
Definition of shiny

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Cite this Entry

“Lightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightened. Accessed 31 Jul. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on lightened

Nglish: Translation of lightened for Spanish Speakers

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