lightened 1 of 3

adjective

1
as in illuminated

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2
as in eased

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lightened

2 of 3

verb (1)

past tense of lighten
as in brightened
to become glad or hopeful the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lightened

3 of 3

verb (2)

past tense of lighten
as in illumined
to supply with light the room was gradually lightened by the rising sun

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 lightened
Adjective
The dyes work best on pre-lightened hair, but certain colors can show up — with less vibrancy — on darker shades, too. — Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026 Instead, Guarnaschelli recommends color drenching the ceiling in darker rooms, either with the same color or a slightly lightened shade. — Heather Bien, Southern Living, 14 July 2026 New photos show the singer with lightened hair. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 28 May 2026 Robinson added 17 points, 11 rebounds, two steals and a block, and both Mikal Bridges (23 minutes) and Josh Hart (28) saw lightened workloads as the Knicks made quick work of the Bulls on Friday. — Kristian Winfield, New York Daily News, 4 Apr. 2026 Only two of the eight wives this season are blonde, a stark difference from season one wherein all but one had highlights, lightened hair, or full-on bleach jobs. — Elizabeth Gulino, Allure, 26 Mar. 2026
Verb
The service is not suitable for very fine hair or hair that has been heavily bleached or lightened. — Hanna Wickes, Sacbee.com, 1 Oct. 2026 Diaz’s blonde strands were lightened to an ashy platinum hue and trimmed to her shoulders. — Hannah Malach, InStyle, 20 Aug. 2026 In a large bowl, beat egg yolks with an electric mixer until thickened and lightened in color, and when lifted, the beaters leave a ribbon on the surface. — Sarah Martens, Better Homes & Gardens, 12 Aug. 2026 Continue mixing on low until the batter has lightened, about 2 minutes. — Terrence Hayes, Southern Living, 8 Aug. 2026 Almost every area of the AMR26 has been refined or lightened. — Alex Kalinauckas, New York Times, 24 July 2026 Yamamoto’s gem not only set up the Dodgers for the win but also lightened the load on a bullpen tasked with covering Game 2. — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 19 July 2026 Hinduism is a narrative religion; its mercurial wisdom is lightened and sweetened by stories, softened by ambiguities, sharpened by paradoxes. — Chandrahas Choudhury, Condé Nast Traveler, 5 July 2026 Congress has since lightened some of the harsh mandatory penalties that applied to Bailey and others convicted back in the 1990s. — Carrie Johnson, NPR, 23 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightened
  1. illuminated
  2. eased
  3. brightened
  4. illumined
  5. dazzling
  6. decreased
  7. lit
  8. shiny
Adjective
  • Slanted vertical light animations frame an illuminated lightning bolt emblem.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 21 Oct. 2026
  • Near the brightly illuminated planet Adrian, background stars were therefore largely absent.
    — Davide Abbatescianni, Variety, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of illuminated
Adjective
  • Real estate developers are already cautiously planning to take advantage of the eased regulations and plan to announce new projects after the law goes into effect.
    — Roger Vincent, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026
  • Despite the eased restrictions, Rader is still only allowed out of his 8-foot-by-10-foot cell for one hour a day, five days a week.
    — Alex Gurley, PEOPLE, 10 Oct. 2025
Definition of eased
Verb
  • And then the whole restaurant would have their days brightened when LeMay and Ward would burst into song, loud enough for everyone to hear.
    — Heath Kalb, CBS News, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The rapper’s makeup was soft and dreamy, featuring an impactful pink blush that brightened the face and pink glossy lips lined with a darker pencil for definition.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of brightened
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
Definition of illumined
Adjective
  • Expect a night of dazzling sights, as costumed performers, puppets and floats make their way down Columbus Drive.
    — Jennifer Day, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The royal shared a better look at her new dye job later that evening, complementing her summery highlights with a butter yellow Elie Saab cutout cape gown and her dazzling Queen Mary Lover’s Knot Tiara.
    — Lara Walsh, InStyle, 22 Oct. 2026
Definition of dazzling
Adjective
  • Some of these studies even suggest a decreased risk of breast cancer with certain formulations of menopausal hormone therapy.
    — Versha Pleasant, The Conversation, 30 July 2026
  • He was slowed early in his recovery from a knee injury and then saw a decreased role in the rotation in the last month, playing only seven minutes in three tournament games.
    — Joseph Duarte, Houston Chronicle, 28 Mar. 2026
Definition of decreased
Verb
  • Try not to squeal like a 5-year-old when the foot-tall sparkler speared into the sundae is lit.
    — Lisa Shames, Chicago Tribune, 22 Oct. 2026
  • The first practical transformer was switched on about 15 miles down the road, in 1886, when William Stanley lit stores and offices lining Great Barrington’s Main Street.
    — Alex Pasternack, Scientific American, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of lit
Adjective
  • The tiny, beautiful shop is shiny with white tile, stainless steel, and pale wood, and one wall is stacked with candy whose intricate designs and rainbow flavors produce an infinite variety.
    — Jeffrey Steingarten, Vogue, 25 Oct. 2026
  • Both pieces, a tank top and matching midi-length skirt, were black and made of nylon, which is a slinky and fitted fabric, slippery and shiny in nature.
    — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 25 Oct. 2026
Definition of shiny

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Cite this Entry

“Lightened.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/lightened. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

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