as in lightens
to become glad or hopeful
the glum soccer player started to brighten upon being told that his injury would not jeopardize his career
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Recent Examples of brightens
Apple explains that ti lifts and brightens skin tones and adds an extra touch of vibrancy throughout the image.
—
David Phelan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
This creamy, cheesy soup also brightens cold weather with its pretty green hue.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
The lightweight gel-cream sinks in fast, while niacinamide brightens and smooths over time.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
Via a cocktail of vitamin C and the antioxidant properties of ferulic acid and vitamin E, this Vogue Verified vitamin C serum delivers environmental protection, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves firmness, and brightens.
—Akili King, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
While the former depuffs and brightens the under-eye region on days when you’re deprived of zzzs, the latter takes advantage of orange peptides, pomegranate spheres, and hyaluronic acid to further smooth the skin.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
In their bleak prison cell, Luis (Tonatiuh) brightens Valentín’s (Luna) days with memories of a splendid movie musical starring a larger-than-life diva named Ingrid Luna (Lopez).
—Tolly Wright, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
But seeing the children in the shelter − along with the Red Cross staff − brightens her spirit.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Stephanie said this brightens the day for herself and Patrick, but also for others who see the animal friends hanging out together.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2025
David Phelan, Forbes.com, 17 Sep. 2025
This creamy, cheesy soup also brightens cold weather with its pretty green hue.
—Jenna Sims, Southern Living, 16 Sep. 2025
The lightweight gel-cream sinks in fast, while niacinamide brightens and smooths over time.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 12 Sep. 2025
Via a cocktail of vitamin C and the antioxidant properties of ferulic acid and vitamin E, this Vogue Verified vitamin C serum delivers environmental protection, reduces fine lines and wrinkles, improves firmness, and brightens.
—Akili King, Vogue, 10 Sep. 2025
While the former depuffs and brightens the under-eye region on days when you’re deprived of zzzs, the latter takes advantage of orange peptides, pomegranate spheres, and hyaluronic acid to further smooth the skin.
—Stacia Datskovska, Footwear News, 8 Sep. 2025
In their bleak prison cell, Luis (Tonatiuh) brightens Valentín’s (Luna) days with memories of a splendid movie musical starring a larger-than-life diva named Ingrid Luna (Lopez).
—Tolly Wright, Vulture, 8 Sep. 2025
But seeing the children in the shelter − along with the Red Cross staff − brightens her spirit.
—Hope Karnopp, jsonline.com, 4 Sep. 2025
Stephanie said this brightens the day for herself and Patrick, but also for others who see the animal friends hanging out together.
—Rick Mauch, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 28 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightens
Verb
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By the weekend, the Gemini moon lightens the mood, bringing opportunities for travel, study, or simply laughter with friends.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
7 Sep. 2025
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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,
New Atlas,
29 Aug. 2025
Verb
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As the title might suggest, the k-drama A Hundred Memories glows with nostalgia, the nostalgia of an earlier decade and also a time in life when dreams seem possible.—
Joan MacDonald,
Forbes.com,
19 Sep. 2025
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The course glows at night, thanks to a custom LED system that lights up the track.—
Jacqueline Dole,
Travel + Leisure,
18 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
The system revives the centuries-old concept of pinhole imaging.—
Aamir Khollam,
Interesting Engineering,
19 Sep. 2025
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This bold release revives a 1930s fashion illustration featuring an image of a man on the street that reads more abstract when knotted.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
13 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Brightens.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightens. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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