BRIGHTENING Synonyms: 22 Similar and Opposite Words

brightening

verb

present participle of brighten

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 The narrow harvest window and vitamin C plus niacinamide combination are what set it apart from other brightening serums on shelves. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Sacbee.com, 26 Aug. 2026 But while it’s been proven effective at tasks like brightening dingy whites and descaling coffee makers, does vinegar also work on bathroom odors, bacteria, and buildup? — Louise Parks, Martha Stewart, 24 Aug. 2026 Most of all, Kay praises the formula for its smoothing and radiance-boosting effects, which can be chalked up to humectants like glycerin and propylene glycol, plus brightening Japanese persimmon leaf extract and camellia seed oil. — Jenny Berg, InStyle, 19 Aug. 2026 Even with their fortunes brightening in Michigan, Republicans are clear-eyed about the headwinds this year. — Burgess Everett, semafor.com, 6 Aug. 2026 Additionally, loose powder was favored since a heavier hand is required for a long-wear, sweat-proof look, often in a brightening pink hue for the under-eyes such as best-selling options from Rare Beauty and Givenchy. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 19 July 2026 Air molecules reflect and scatter light beyond an immediate beam, which is why the sky starts brightening at dawn even before the sun climbs above the horizon. — Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 14 July 2026 Detroit has also allowed a league-high 153 points through three weeks, further brightening Crawford’s outlook. — Juan Carlos Blanco, Forbes.com, 12 July 2026 Warm White For brightening a room and infusing light into its surroundings, Holmquist recommends a warm white. — Melissa Epifano, The Spruce, 11 July 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for brightening

Verb

When temperatures exceed 110°F, passenger planes must consider lightening their loads.

— John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026
See what the experts had to say about lightening your hair without bleach below.

— Audrey Noble, Vogue, 28 July 2026

Definition of lightening

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brightened

brightening

brightens

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“Brightening.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/brightening. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of brightening

verb

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