as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful
the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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Recent Examples of lightening
Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Antoine said getting Jones back on track is key to lightening the load on the Bobcats' other creators.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 5 Dec. 2025
No problem, because some stars like Alison Williams and Tate McRae have shown us there's a much quicker way to add brightness to your look by simply just lightening your front pieces.
—Karli Bendlin, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Despite being adopted a couple of years ago, the reform continues to be a lightening rod for French politics, with both the left and the far-right calling for its amendment, if not its repeal altogether.
—Charlotte Reed, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
While these are better at lightening than cleaning stains, a soak can help keep mugs stain-free.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
This treatment also includes a lightening agent to help fade sun and age spots from the delicate skin of your hands, or a summer spent planted firmly in the sun.
—Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The controversial skin-lightening agent is banned in the EU, Australia, and Japan.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Those who frequent salons know that lightening one's hair is much longer, more delicate process than going in the other direction, and Stone has slowly been making her way back to auburn since switching to a dark brunette shade in the summer of 2024.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2025
Verb
On deep skin tones, the gray adds a pop of contrasting color, lightening the lashes that frame the eye.
—Jeanne Ballion, Vogue, 19 Dec. 2025
Antoine said getting Jones back on track is key to lightening the load on the Bobcats' other creators.
—Caleb Yum, Austin American Statesman, 5 Dec. 2025
No problem, because some stars like Alison Williams and Tate McRae have shown us there's a much quicker way to add brightness to your look by simply just lightening your front pieces.
—Karli Bendlin, PEOPLE, 24 Nov. 2025
Despite being adopted a couple of years ago, the reform continues to be a lightening rod for French politics, with both the left and the far-right calling for its amendment, if not its repeal altogether.
—Charlotte Reed, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2025
While these are better at lightening than cleaning stains, a soak can help keep mugs stain-free.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 20 Sep. 2025
This treatment also includes a lightening agent to help fade sun and age spots from the delicate skin of your hands, or a summer spent planted firmly in the sun.
—Tanya Akim, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
The controversial skin-lightening agent is banned in the EU, Australia, and Japan.
—Keyaira Boone, Essence, 5 Sep. 2025
Those who frequent salons know that lightening one's hair is much longer, more delicate process than going in the other direction, and Stone has slowly been making her way back to auburn since switching to a dark brunette shade in the summer of 2024.
—Emily Tannenbaum, Glamour, 30 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightening. Accessed 11 Jan. 2026.
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