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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
The dyes work best on pre-lightened hair, but certain colors can show up — with less vibrancy — on darker shades, too. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 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
Diaz’s blonde strands were lightened to an ashy platinum hue and trimmed to her shoulders. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026 In a large bowl, beat egg yolks with an electric mixer until thickened and lightened in color, and when lifted, the beaters leave a ribbon on the surface. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2026 Continue mixing on low until the batter has lightened, about 2 minutes. — Terrence Hayes, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 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 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
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightened
  1. illuminated
  2. eased
  3. brightened
  4. illumined
  5. dazzling
  6. decreased
  7. lit
  8. shiny
Adjective
  • Guests took their seats at long counters built around illuminated jewelry cases, with jewels and timepieces visible beneath the glass.
    — Ryma Chikhoune, Footwear News, 24 Sep. 2026
  • Once it's done, six unique illuminated sculptures will shine.
    — Megan Shinn, CBS News, 22 Sep. 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
  • In a hospital room brightened with pink balloons and flowers on Friday, the new parents were overcome with emotion.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 11 Sep. 2026
  • With its Manuka honey heart, the scent is brightened by orange blossom and mandarin before settling into tonka, vanilla, and sandalwood.
    — Lauren Valenti, InStyle, 9 Sep. 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
  • Unlike destructive anti-satellite weapons, which can permanently damage spacecraft or generate debris, laser dazzling is intended to interfere with a satellite’s sensors without physically destroying it.
    — Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 25 Sep. 2026
  • Great virtuosi such as violinist Isaac Stern, pianist Van Cliburn, soprano Leontyne Price and hosts of other incredible artists, both American and from abroad, blessed our concert halls with their dazzling artistry.
    — Letters to the Editor, Washington Post, 25 Sep. 2026
Definition of dazzling
Adjective
  • Some of these studies even suggest a decreased risk of breast cancer with certain formulations of menopausal hormone therapy.
    — Versha Pleasant, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • 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
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • As the music intensifies, so does the questioning, as Fielder continues to push Holmes and Evans about what’s real and what’s being hidden from him as moodily lighted close-up shots flash.
    — Anthony Solorzano, Los Angeles Times, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Campers were beginning to gather; here or there a phone lit a face out of the night like a pilgrim in a tenebrist tableau.
    — J. B. MacKinnon, Harpers Magazine, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of lit
Adjective
  • Many glass cleaners use ammonia to cut through grease and grime, but instead of leaving your appliances polished and shiny, the pungent solution can actually leave a streaky, cloudy sheen on stainless steel.
    — Kate Van Pelt, The Spruce, 28 Sep. 2026
  • There were many exciting parts of your new car — the heated seats, a shiny new navigation system, three free months of satellite radio.
    — Lindsay Owens, New York Daily News, 28 Sep. 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 29 Sep. 2026.

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