brightened 1 of 2

brightened

2 of 2

verb

past tense of brighten
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

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of brightened
Verb
Hollis brightened the beige-on-beige hallway entrance to her apartment by hanging a wreath of flowers on her brown door. Carol Marbin Miller, Miami Herald, 2 Jan. 2025 Hotter and brighter than the sun The OGLE data revealed several objects in the LMC and SMC that brightened by between 10 and 20 times over the course of a few months. Robert Lea, Space.com, 23 Dec. 2024 Between 2018 and 2020, for instance, the telescope spotted a slight color change in Saturn’s central band, which brightened by around 5 to 10 percent. Sam Walters, Discover Magazine, 12 Dec. 2024 There’s also the question of what this win means for Moore, whose future has brightened considerably in the span of two weeks. Austin Meek, The Athletic, 1 Dec. 2024 Due to geochemical weathering, this CO2 has been drawn down into carbonate rocks as the Sun has brightened, says Schwieterman. Bruce Dorminey, Forbes, 20 Oct. 2024 Whereas the Apple phone app tends to turn every color warm, this one is very blue and cool, and the background behind the tree is dim rather than eye-burningly brightened. Kyle Chayka, The New Yorker, 16 Oct. 2024 The result is a French-California bistro where beef tartare gets brightened by the crunch of green beans and amberjack crudo receives a garnish of cucumber and grape salad. Stephanie Breijo, Los Angeles Times, 15 Oct. 2024 While consumer attitudes have brightened in recent months, many people remain frustrated with the cumulative leap in prices over recent years. Max Zahn, ABC News, 8 Oct. 2024
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightened
Verb
  • His ballhawking has revived Clint Capela’s ability to effectively contain the ball in drop coverage.
    Steven Louis Goldstein, The Athletic, 3 Jan. 2025
  • The report also revived the theory that moderate drinking is linked to fewer heart attack and stroke deaths, and fewer deaths overall, compared with never drinking.
    Roni Caryn Rabin, New York Times, 3 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • Two tables near the center of the ballroom, where all the women seated were wearing bright red, stood out.
    Jeff A. Chamer, Charlotte Observer, 21 Jan. 2025
  • Maybe if the Bruins prioritized their drafting and development over the years, the future would be brighter.
    Shayna Goldman, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • The rain is forecast to be widespread but is expected to be light enough to avoid major flooding.
    Daniel Amarante, ABC News, 26 Jan. 2025
  • Alba’s creations are cut from plush materials such as corduroy and flannel, featuring natural shoulders and only the lightest of canvasing in the chest, which results in a less-formal look.
    Aleks Cvetkovic, Robb Report, 26 Jan. 2025

Thesaurus Entries Near brightened

Cite this Entry

“Brightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightened. Accessed 30 Jan. 2025.

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