Word Explorer

Lighten

🔄 Synonyms of "Lighten"

3 synonyms found via WordNet and Google Books.

Word	Definition
lighten upverb	(idiomatic, intransitive, transitive) To make (something) or to become less serious and more cheerful or casual; to relax.
brightenverb	(transitive, figuratively) To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven
buoy upverb	(idiomatic, transitive, figurative) To uplift, hearten, inspire, or raise the spirits of.

↔️ Antonyms of "Lighten"

Words with the opposite meaning.

Word	Definition
weigh onverb	(figuratively) To cause distress to or impose a burden on; to trouble.
darkenverb	(transitive) To make dark or darker by reducing light.
weigh downverb	(idiomatic, transitive) To be too much for someone to cope with.

💡 Words with a Similar Meaning to "Lighten"

Found via reverse dictionary — words that share a conceptual meaning.

Word	Definition
brightenverb	(transitive, figuratively) To make more cheerful and pleasant; to enliven
buoy upverb	(idiomatic, transitive, figurative) To uplift, hearten, inspire, or raise the spirits of.
lighten upverb	(idiomatic, intransitive, transitive) To make (something) or to become less serious and more cheerful or casual; to relax.
enlightenverb	(transitive, figurative) To make something clear to (someone); to give knowledge or understanding to.
illuminateverb	(transitive, figurative) To clarify or make something understandable.
cutverb	(chiefly transitive) To incise, to cut into the surface of something.
reducing	(chemistry) That causes reduction.
attenuateverb	(transitive) To reduce in size, force, value, amount, or degree.
minimizeverb	(transitive) To make (something) smaller or as small as possible; shrink; reduce.
reduceverb	(transitive) To bring down the size, quantity, quality, value or intensity of something; to diminish, to lower.
defuseverb	(transitive, figurative) To make less dangerous, tense, or hostile.
decreaseverb	(intransitive) Of a quantity, to become smaller.
diminishverb	(transitive) To make smaller.
simplifyverb	(transitive) To make simpler, either by reducing in complexity, reducing to component parts, or making easier to understand.
ameliorateverb	(transitive) To make better, or improve, something perceived to be in a negative condition.
lessenverb	(transitive) To make less; to diminish; to reduce.
softenverb	(transitive) To make something soft or softer.
streamlineverb	(transitive) To design and construct the contours of a vehicle etc. so as to offer the least resistance to its flow through a fluid.
abateverb	(transitive) To lessen (something) in force or intensity; to moderate.
unwindverb	(intransitive, colloquial) To relax; to chill out; to rest and become relieved of stress