as in brightens
to become glad or hopeful
the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in illumines
to supply with light
the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun
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Recent Examples of lightens
New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025
Dark green foliage lightens toward the branch tips.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Dropping perfectionism where possible lightens the load for you and your team, both before and during your time away.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
The propeller steering mechanism also simplifies and lightens the mounting hardware, adding to total weight savings, and allows multiple outboards to be mounted closer together.
—New Atlas, 29 Aug. 2025
Dark green foliage lightens toward the branch tips.
—Kim Toscano, Southern Living, 24 Aug. 2025
Dropping perfectionism where possible lightens the load for you and your team, both before and during your time away.
—Aytekin Tank, Forbes.com, 5 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Lightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightens. Accessed 14 Sep. 2025.
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