as in illuminated
filled with much light
the brightened room is now a much more cheerful place for the recuperating patients
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in lightened
to become glad or hopeful
the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of brightened
Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Discovered in January, the green comet has brightened faster than predicted in recent weeks and now looks set to be visible from dark rural skies during October 2025.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Stained and seasoned with curry powder, the chickpea salad’s bold flavor is brightened with fresh herbs, scallions and a splash of vinegar.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Finn was a sweet soul, who brightened all of our lives.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Or tender, juicy mojo pork marinated with savory cumin and cilantro, and brightened with zesty lime and orange juices.
—Martie Bowser, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Chorizo, shrimp, clams, and corn soak in a rich beer-and-butter broth, brightened with lemon and parsley to deliver all the flavor of a hands-on boil without the mess.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
There’s much, much more to the culture, of course, and there are positive and negative associations with ultras around Germany and beyond, but this was another occasion brightened by their work.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Each of them offers money and position but nothing much in the way of pleasure, excitement, intellectual stimulation, or the prospect of anything other than a life of loveless, socially irreproachable tedium possibly brightened by the occasional extramarital affair.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Verb
The agent brightened, having noticed something in my file.
—Katherine Lagrave, AFAR Media, 16 Sep. 2025
Discovered in January, the green comet has brightened faster than predicted in recent weeks and now looks set to be visible from dark rural skies during October 2025.
—Jamie Carter, Forbes.com, 10 Sep. 2025
Stained and seasoned with curry powder, the chickpea salad’s bold flavor is brightened with fresh herbs, scallions and a splash of vinegar.
—The New York Times News Service Syndicate, San Diego Union-Tribune, 10 Sep. 2025
Finn was a sweet soul, who brightened all of our lives.
—Bridget Fogarty, jsonline.com, 5 Sep. 2025
Or tender, juicy mojo pork marinated with savory cumin and cilantro, and brightened with zesty lime and orange juices.
—Martie Bowser, Miami Herald, 5 Sep. 2025
Chorizo, shrimp, clams, and corn soak in a rich beer-and-butter broth, brightened with lemon and parsley to deliver all the flavor of a hands-on boil without the mess.
—Saveur Editors, Saveur, 4 Sep. 2025
There’s much, much more to the culture, of course, and there are positive and negative associations with ultras around Germany and beyond, but this was another occasion brightened by their work.
—Sebastian Stafford-Bloor, New York Times, 2 Sep. 2025
Each of them offers money and position but nothing much in the way of pleasure, excitement, intellectual stimulation, or the prospect of anything other than a life of loveless, socially irreproachable tedium possibly brightened by the occasional extramarital affair.
—Literary Hub, 2 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
This illuminated inflatable can be set up quickly and comes with tether cords and ground stakes to keep it securely in place.—
Nora Colomer
may earn a commission if you buy through our referral links. This content was created by a team that works independently from the Fox newsroom.,
FOXNews.com,
12 Sep. 2025
-
Other favorites to expect again include the Netherlands’ Birdmen — massive, illuminated, beaked creatures that roam the streets — and Tablao Flamenco.—
Virginia Brown,
Charlotte Observer,
11 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Vehicle dynamics have been optimized with stiffer, single-rate Multimatic shock absorbers, springs lightened by 35% and a roll gradient reduced by 10%, improving body control and aerodynamic efficiency.—
Mark Ewing,
Forbes.com,
10 Sep. 2025
-
Decades later, when pollution let up, their wings lightened again.—
Ross Andersen,
The Atlantic,
7 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The music thumped away, though at reduced volume, the bats performed their acrobatics over the pool, the hash pipe glowed, people began to yawn.—
T. Coraghessan Boyle,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Some cells glowed brightly due to high activity, others dimmed with weaker expression, while some switched off entirely.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
9 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
Zibanejad shifted to wing and looked revived while playing alongside Miller.—
Vincent Z. Mercogliano,
New York Times,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The intimate gatherings of 18 to 22 guests around an exclusive menu were recently revived with a more refined format.—
Angela Velasquez,
Footwear News,
18 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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This week, a crescent moon will join, shining close to Jupiter before featuring in a rare close conjunction with Venus and bright star Regulus.—
Jamie Carter,
Forbes.com,
14 Sep. 2025
-
Even a half block away, the air smells sweet and bright, like seared shellfish, sharp vinegar, and the blistery green of sizzling herbs.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
14 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Crafted in Ireland, the coach features dark brown panels adorned with golden scrollwork and a gilded roof, offering shelter from the light rain falling over Berkshire.—
Amanda Castro
Hannah Parry
Shane Croucher
Jack Royston,
MSNBC Newsweek,
18 Sep. 2025
-
The collection was heavy on bubble skirts and dresses, offering a sleek take on mid-season coats and leaning into light colors and tailored short-sleeves.—
Anika Reed,
USA Today,
18 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 20 Sep. 2025.
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