lighten

/ˈlī-tᵊn/

Middle English lightenen, from light

verb

  1. to make light or clear : illuminate

  2. enlighten

  3. to make (something, such as a color) lighter

verb

  1. to relieve of a burden in whole or in part

  2. to reduce in weight or quantity : lessen

  3. to make less wearisome : alleviate

the news lightened his mind

relieve alleviate lighten assuage mitigate allay mean to make something less grievous. relieve implies a lifting of enough of a burden to make it tolerable. alleviate implies temporary or partial lessening of pain or distress.

verb

  1. to take things less seriously