as in lightening
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 brightening
This effort will focus on the galactic bulge, where star density is much higher, and will take advantage of the fact that a planet can act as a small gravitational lens, briefly brightening any background stars that pass between it and Earth.
—
John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Her mother, Lianna Charles Moore, previously described her daughters as always laughing, smiling and brightening her family's day.
—Christina Fan, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Plus, similar tinted, brightening eye creams below.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 14 Apr. 2026
The key window is April 10-20, when the comet is brightening but not yet too deeply embedded in the sun's glare.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
The off-white wash feels especially fresh for spring, offering a softer alternative to stark white, while still brightening your wardrobe.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Ferulic acid boosts that brightening trio, while niacinamide and tangerine peel extract help even things out over time.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
That lush indoor garden brightening your living room could be hiding a serious risk.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
More than a body moisturizer, Crepe Control Tightening Body Cream is a transforming treatment, packed with peptides plus lifting and brightening agents to visibly tighten and even skin tone.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 23 Apr. 2026
Her mother, Lianna Charles Moore, previously described her daughters as always laughing, smiling and brightening her family's day.
—Christina Fan, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2026
Plus, similar tinted, brightening eye creams below.
—Tamim Alnuweiri, InStyle, 14 Apr. 2026
The key window is April 10-20, when the comet is brightening but not yet too deeply embedded in the sun's glare.
—Jamie Carter, Space.com, 10 Apr. 2026
The off-white wash feels especially fresh for spring, offering a softer alternative to stark white, while still brightening your wardrobe.
—Rosie Marder, Travel + Leisure, 7 Apr. 2026
Ferulic acid boosts that brightening trio, while niacinamide and tangerine peel extract help even things out over time.
—Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 25 Mar. 2026
That lush indoor garden brightening your living room could be hiding a serious risk.
—Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Miami Herald, 24 Mar. 2026
More than a body moisturizer, Crepe Control Tightening Body Cream is a transforming treatment, packed with peptides plus lifting and brightening agents to visibly tighten and even skin tone.
—Tory Johnson, ABC News, 19 Mar. 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightening
Verb
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Cyrus has been subtly lightening her naturally brunette color over the last year, fueling rumors of a Hannah Montana reunion before the special was confirmed.—
Grace McCarty,
Glamour,
26 Mar. 2026
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Many aspirants, like Yusuf, consider jars of skin lightening cream to be essential, along with access to exclusive gyms and going to the right hair salon.—
Taran Khan,
The Dial,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Depending on the evening, dinner is served outside under the open sky or inside a softly glowing hoop house.—
Susmita Baral,
Travel + Leisure,
26 Apr. 2026
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What's left behind is a glowing core, known as a white dwarf, which is sending out radiation that causes the gas shells to glow.—
Elizabeth Howell,
Space.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Verb
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But with a sequel to dissect and an audience primed for this kind of analysis, the larger conversation around villainy is worth reviving.—
Louis Peitzman,
Vulture,
30 Apr. 2026
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But Anne Hathaway reviving an actual movie costume from 2006?—
Christian Allaire,
Vogue,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Brightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightening. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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