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
Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The rich buttermilk ranch dressing is brightened by fresh lemon juice and zest, which balances the tang of buttermilk and sour cream with the savory herb notes of chives and basil.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Ancho chile and cayenne give a layered blend of heat while brightened up by caraway, cumin, and coriander.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
This is accompanied by a brightening of the comet, but 3I/ATLAS brightened even more than expected.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Imagine my surprise when MMskincare’s tinted Glow Guard Correct Eye Creamimmediately brightened my under eyes with more efficacy than a color corrector.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 14 Apr. 2026
Even the interest rate outlook brightened this week, with fed funds futures suddenly pricing in at least one cut by the end of the year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere, the formal dining room is framed by ample wall space for art, while adjoining sitting and lounge areas, brightened by large oval windows and skylights, create inviting spots for reading, writing, or taking calls.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2026
But even during the dreariest days of March, our beauty and wellness rituals brightened up our routines.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
Verb
The filmmakers have lightened and brightened their source material to a kid-friendly degree — even the English countryside, as glisteningly shot by George Steel, has never looked less overcast.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 27 Apr. 2026
The rich buttermilk ranch dressing is brightened by fresh lemon juice and zest, which balances the tang of buttermilk and sour cream with the savory herb notes of chives and basil.
—Kimberly Holland, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026
Ancho chile and cayenne give a layered blend of heat while brightened up by caraway, cumin, and coriander.
—Katlyn Moncada, Better Homes & Gardens, 17 Apr. 2026
This is accompanied by a brightening of the comet, but 3I/ATLAS brightened even more than expected.
—Robert Lea, Space.com, 15 Apr. 2026
Imagine my surprise when MMskincare’s tinted Glow Guard Correct Eye Creamimmediately brightened my under eyes with more efficacy than a color corrector.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 14 Apr. 2026
Even the interest rate outlook brightened this week, with fed funds futures suddenly pricing in at least one cut by the end of the year.
—Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 Apr. 2026
Elsewhere, the formal dining room is framed by ample wall space for art, while adjoining sitting and lounge areas, brightened by large oval windows and skylights, create inviting spots for reading, writing, or taking calls.
—Demetrius Simms, Robb Report, 7 Apr. 2026
But even during the dreariest days of March, our beauty and wellness rituals brightened up our routines.
—Grace McCarty, Glamour, 1 Apr. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Adjective
-
Open-concept bathrooms with terrazzo vanities and illuminated mirrors blur the line between getting ready and hanging out, which suits the hotel’s social energy.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Mill Mountain Park is home to a zoo, wildflower garden, and hiking trails; its peak is topped with a nearly 90-foot-tall star, illuminated and visible for miles.—
Anne Olivia Bauso,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
But he was known also for an ever-ready smile, an unflappable temperament and unassuming demeanor, an ego-less willingness to pitch in to help other reporters on stories large and small, and a quirky sense of humor that lightened the stress of many a deadline.—
Andres Viglucci,
Miami Herald,
1 May 2026
-
The filmmakers have lightened and brightened their source material to a kid-friendly degree — even the English countryside, as glisteningly shot by George Steel, has never looked less overcast.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
27 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
This photo of the full moon was captured by Deepak Gupta as the lunar disk glowed above a statue of Lord Buddha in Lucknow, India on May 1.—
Anthony Wood,
Space.com,
2 May 2026
-
ServiceNow, meanwhile, is doing everything right—almost every revenue and profitability metric glowed in its latest quarterly results—and yet shares took a 14% dive as the SaaSpocalypse fears loom.—
John Kell,
Fortune,
29 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Eames Demetrios, director of the Eames Office and chairman of the Eames Foundation, has revived his grandparents' dream.—
Vanessa Romo,
NPR,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The legislation, which cleared the Florida Senate during the regular session but stalled in the House, is being revived amid intensifying political pressure and growing public unease about AI’s real-world consequences.—
Garrett Shanley,
Miami Herald,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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It must be said that the political opposition in El Salvador was close to non-existent, and Bukele had no trouble leaving it light years behind.—
Óscar Martínez,
The Dial,
30 Apr. 2026
-
The driver who fatally struck a grandfather in Midtown in 2024 was sentenced with 180 days of work release and 30 days of community service last week — a typically light sentence in California, where many vehicular manslaughter cases are charged as misdemeanors.—
Ariane Lange,
Sacbee.com,
30 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His orangey hair nearly matched a color in his brand-new Miami Dolphins jersey, the number thirty-nine spangly and bright.—
Chang-rae Lee,
New Yorker,
3 May 2026
-
This popular, low-maintenance plant features stunning burgundy foliage and bright pink spring flowers.—
SJ McShane,
Martha Stewart,
3 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 6 May. 2026.
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