lightening 1 of 2

verb (1)

present participle of lighten
as in brightening
to become glad or hopeful the patient lightened when he heard the disease responds well to treatment

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

lightening

2 of 2

verb (2)

present participle of lighten
as in illuminating
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 lightening
Verb
Prescription and over-the-counter skin products, especially retinoids, exfoliating acids, acne treatments, and lightening products. — Malana Vantyler, Miami Herald, 6 Oct. 2026 But lightening the blame hits a road bump with the word prevention. — Marie Lisette Rimer, Hartford Courant, 26 Sep. 2026 When temperatures exceed 110°F, passenger planes must consider lightening their loads. — John Vaillant, Time, 8 Aug. 2026 This sleek style delivers, adding a rich-looking touch to casual looks and complementing dressier outfits while lightening my load on the go. — Tanya Sharma, PEOPLE, 30 July 2026 See what the experts had to say about lightening your hair without bleach below. — Audrey Noble, Vogue, 28 July 2026 Instead, opt for neutral coats of paint, warm lightening schemes, and functional storage. — Ashley Chalmers, The Spruce, 20 July 2026 The minimization regimen is also effective at lightening the price tag, cutting an even $11K off the base price as compared to the Bambi 16RB. — New Atlas, 11 July 2026 Get bangs like no other and still avoid bulk with the help of lightening layers. — Kaitlyn Yarborough, Southern Living, 16 June 2026
Recent Examples of Synonyms for lightening
  1. brightening
  2. illuminating
  3. lighting
Verb
  • Some also have other antiaging superstars like retinol, brightening ingredients like vitamin C, antioxidants like vitamin E, or niacinamide (a form of vitamin B3) to strengthen the skin barrier.
    — Christa Joanna Lee, Glamour, 23 Oct. 2026
  • There aren't any huge economic reports on the docket either, brightening the spotlight on the stream of earnings updates.
    — Zev Fima,Kevin Stankiewicz, CNBC, 18 Oct. 2026
Definition of brightening
Verb
  • Bill gave us a big chunk of his time to dig into these issues with him, and the resulting conversation is a really illuminating one.
    — Nilay Patel, The Verge, 22 Oct. 2026
  • Fayet later moved into illustration, illuminating works of poetry and even a book for his grandchildren.
    — Julie Coe, Architectural Digest, 20 Oct. 2026
Definition of illuminating
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 lighting

Browse Nearby Words

lightened
lightening
lightens
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Cite this Entry

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

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