Lighten
What it means
To reduce weight, pressure, darkness, or seriousness.
Reach for it when describing a real decrease in a burden or a softer mood
A second volunteer could lighten the workload during the busiest hour.
Words to choose between 7
| playful | |
|---|---|
| everyday |
|
| warm | |
| professional | |
| formal | |
| literary |
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playful
cheer up
Fits when informal emotional encouragement is the sole aim
Careful Cheer up can sound dismissive when the burden is serious.
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everyday
Fits when more light, color, or cheer is the result
Careful Brighten does not address weight or responsibility.
-
warm
Fits when pain, strain, or difficulty is reduced
Careful Ease does not fit making a color or physical object lighter.
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warm
Fits when someone is freed from part of a burden
Careful Relieve can remove a person from duty rather than make the duty lighter.
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professional
reduce
Fits when a measurable amount becomes smaller
Careful Reduce is neutral and lacks the sense of relief.
-
formal
Fits when a problem or suffering becomes less severe
Careful Alleviate is too formal for changing a shade or casual mood.
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literary
soften
Fits when tone, impact, or appearance becomes less harsh
Careful Soften may preserve the same quantity of work.
Opposites 3
- darken
- burden
- intensify
Common phrases 3
-
lighten the load
Shared transport will lighten the load for each household.
-
lighten the mood
The children's drawings helped lighten the mood in the shelter.
-
lighten a color
A little white pigment will lighten the color without cooling it.
Definitions and examples are written for this site. How words are chosen Recording: Vealhurl, Southern England accent, from Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 Updated