as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful
the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in illuminating
to supply with light
the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of lightening
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
18 June 2026
Get bangs like no other and still avoid bulk with the help of lightening layers.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Not the irony of having a skin-lightening condition (or predilection) while singlehandedly Blackening up the portals of pop music by integrating a music video network that upheld America's racist standard of (in)visibility.
—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
The overall vibe is quiet luxury—rich, polished, and well-maintained, without over-lightening the hair.
—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Cyrus has been subtly lightening her naturally brunette color over the last year, fueling rumors of a Hannah Montana reunion before the special was confirmed.
—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
26 Mar. 2026
Many aspirants, like Yusuf, consider jars of skin lightening cream to be essential, along with access to exclusive gyms and going to the right hair salon.
—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
How to treat melasma The best way to manage melasma is to use a skin-care routine that is right for your skin type, which includes skin-lightening ingredients like hydroquinone, tranexamic acid or niacinamide.
—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Music plays a central role throughout the Amphibian Stage production, acting as a transition between scenes and lightening the drama.
—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
Hydrogen peroxide is great for lightening stains in general.
—
Natalia Gonzalez Blanco Serrano,
The Spruce,
18 June 2026
Get bangs like no other and still avoid bulk with the help of lightening layers.
—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
16 June 2026
Not the irony of having a skin-lightening condition (or predilection) while singlehandedly Blackening up the portals of pop music by integrating a music video network that upheld America's racist standard of (in)visibility.
—
Rodney Carmichael,
NPR,
3 June 2026
The overall vibe is quiet luxury—rich, polished, and well-maintained, without over-lightening the hair.
—
Amanda Le,
InStyle,
24 May 2026
Cyrus has been subtly lightening her naturally brunette color over the last year, fueling rumors of a Hannah Montana reunion before the special was confirmed.
—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
26 Mar. 2026
Many aspirants, like Yusuf, consider jars of skin lightening cream to be essential, along with access to exclusive gyms and going to the right hair salon.
—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
How to treat melasma The best way to manage melasma is to use a skin-care routine that is right for your skin type, which includes skin-lightening ingredients like hydroquinone, tranexamic acid or niacinamide.
—
Leslie Baumann,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Music plays a central role throughout the Amphibian Stage production, acting as a transition between scenes and lightening the drama.
—
Manuel Mendoza,
Dallas Morning News,
19 Feb. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightening
Verb
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If your grout isn't horrendous with dirt or stains, this might be a great cleaner for brightening the lines.
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Lastly, citrus peel helps with collagen and elastin production in addition to brightening dull under-eyes.
Verb
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Within these nearly three dozen documents are a bunch of curious, surprising, and illuminating things about this year’s Emmy hopefuls.
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America’s illuminating interview with top Knicks players who, seem to have not stopped partying since Saturday.
Verb
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Opt for sconces and hanging lights, rather than lamps or lighting pieces that take up floorspace.
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The key difference is that rather than suggesting preset visuals, the AI Camera Assistant is ostensibly reacting to the scene, subject, and lighting to dynamically suggest the best alterations for that specific moment — that’s the AI of it all.
Cite this Entry
“Lightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightening. Accessed 28 Jun. 2026.
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