LIGHTEN Synonyms: 66 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'lighten' different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lighten are allay , alleviate , assuage , mitigate , and relieve . While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight. // good news would lighten our worries

Q: When can 'allay' be used instead of 'lighten'?

The meanings of allay and lighten largely overlap; however, allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms. // allayed their fears

Q: Where would 'alleviate' be a reasonable alternative to 'lighten'?

The words alleviate and lighten can be used in similar contexts, but alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress. // the lotion alleviated the itching

Q: In what contexts can 'assuage' take the place of 'lighten'?

The synonyms assuage and lighten are sometimes interchangeable, but assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable. // ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

Q: When would 'mitigate' be a good substitute for 'lighten'?

While in some cases nearly identical to lighten , mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful. // the need to mitigate barbaric laws

Q: When is 'relieve' a more appropriate choice than 'lighten'?

The words relieve and lighten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable. // took an aspirin to relieve the pain

lighten 1 of 2

verb (1)

Definition of lighten

as in to brighten

to become glad or hopeful the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment

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lighten

2 of 2

verb (2)

ˈlī-tᵊn

as in to illumine

to supply with light the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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How is the word lighten different from other verbs like it?

Some common synonyms of lighten are allay, alleviate, assuage, mitigate, and relieve. While all these words mean "to make something less grievous," lighten implies reducing a burdensome or depressing weight.

good news would lighten our worries

When can allay be used instead of lighten?

The meanings of allay and lighten largely overlap; however, allay implies an effective calming or soothing of fears or alarms.

allayed their fears

Where would alleviate be a reasonable alternative to lighten?

The words alleviate and lighten can be used in similar contexts, but alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

the lotion alleviated the itching

In what contexts can assuage take the place of lighten?

The synonyms assuage and lighten are sometimes interchangeable, but assuage implies softening or sweetening what is harsh or disagreeable.

ocean breezes assuaged the intense heat

When would mitigate be a good substitute for lighten?

While in some cases nearly identical to lighten, mitigate suggests a moderating or countering of the effect of something violent or painful.

the need to mitigate barbaric laws

When is relieve a more appropriate choice than lighten?

The words relieve and lighten are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable.

took an aspirin to relieve the pain

Example 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 lighten

Verb

The repartee sparkles; the farcical touches lighten the tone. — Leigh Haber, Los Angeles Times, 13 Oct. 2026 Winds relax Saturday night, if skies remain clear and winds lighten enough, our first widespread frost of the season is possible. — Cutter Martin, CBS News, 12 Oct. 2026 By evening, the Moon enters your 5th House and lightens the atmosphere. — Tarot.com, New York Daily News, 4 Oct. 2026 The $20 million philanthropic endeavor is a way to lighten the debt load on the mountain, Nederland said. — Max Scheinblum, Denver Post, 2 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for lighten

Recent Examples of Synonyms for lighten

Verb

Brightening Eye Gel $76 Designed to brighten, hydrate, and de-puff, Tata Harper’s soothing eye gel is one of my morning must-haves—and it’s also dermatologist approved.

— Jenny Berg, Vogue, 19 Oct. 2026
Dalton also likes using it to deglaze a pan or brighten a sauce at the end of cooking.

— Emily Saladino, Bon Appetit Magazine, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of brighten

Verb

Fantastic, illumined by periodic excursions into surrealism, as when the crew of a mysterious UFO boards a transpacific Kahuna Airlines jet midflight.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026
Geraldine walked over to Felix and Jane’s for fish soup, through long autumn shadows in the park, haze rising like smoke from the grass, illumined by the low sun.

— Tessa Hadley, New Yorker, 25 Jan. 2026

Definition of illumine

Verb

The curved bar, constructed from cast-glass beams covered in silver leaf, takes on an intergalactic glow when illuminated at night.

— Khushbu Shah, Bon Appetit Magazine, 20 Oct. 2026
On sunny days, a wall of floor-to-ceiling windows filters in lots of natural light, illuminating the sleek blond wood interiors.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of illuminate

Verb

Swap the throw pillows, drape a blanket over worn spots, add a slipcover or washable topper and change out the rug, curtains or lighting around it.

— Lauren Jarvis-Gibson, Charlotte Observer, 23 Oct. 2026
In practice, hygge can mean curling up with a book and a hot drink, lighting candles for a quiet dinner, gathering friends for a fireside chat without screens or bundling up for a walk in the snow.

— Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 23 Oct. 2026

Definition of light

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light bulbs

lighten

lightened

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“Lighten.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lighten. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

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