bristle 1 of 2

noun

ˈbri-səl How to pronounce bristle (audio)
Definition of bristlenext
as in fiber
a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair a hairbrush with plastic bristles

Synonyms & Similar Words

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bristle

2 of 2

verb

1
as in to burst
to be copiously supplied a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in to storm
to express one's anger usually violently the man bristled at the accusation, and threatened to file a lawsuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

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 bristle
Noun
The off-white ovoids press into the bristles, bunch up, and recoil several inches, then do it again in a sort of Sisyphean microdrama. — Travis Diehl, The New York Review of Books, 17 Sep. 2026 Nobody wants their toothbrush bristles touching dirty surfaces or falling into unsanitary places. — Katelyn Squiers, Better Homes & Gardens, 16 Sep. 2026
Verb
Lawrence bristled at that charge, noting that he's been protesting data centers since last fall when a wave of new projects was proposed across the district and the state. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026 Voters who prize the observational and the sincere tend to bristle at a movie where the filmmaker is this present and this implicated. — Clayton Davis, Variety, 9 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bristle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristle
  1. fiber
  2. burst
  3. storm
  4. thread
  5. bulge
  6. rage
  7. wire
  8. buzz
Noun
  • Plums contain both soluble and insoluble fiber, but soluble fiber may be especially helpful for cholesterol.
    — Kathleen Ferraro, Verywell Health, 4 Oct. 2026
  • Those grooves encouraged the cells to line up and fuse into fibers that could pull together more effectively.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of fiber
Verb
  • People are herby, people are lemony, people are mustardy, bursting at the taste buds with umami.
    — Raven Smith, Vogue, 7 Oct. 2026
  • Walker burst free on a 76-yard run that turned the game around.
    — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Oct. 2026
Definition of burst
Verb
  • The flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, after passengers stormed the cockpit and wrenched back controlfrom the attacker, who Israeli officials suspect was trying to crash the plane.
    — Nicholas Wu, semafor.com, 2 Oct. 2026
  • Like magic, upon the proclamation, arm lift, and beat drop, pouring rain storms down upon the audience.
    — Miki Hellerbach, Los Angeles Times, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of storm
Noun
  • The Beauty wrapped its season in early March with a lot of loose threads; in July, the show’s cast was released.
    — Rick Porter, HollywoodReporter, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Lifehouse remains the great white whale of Townshend’s career, and a narrative thread throughout the documentary.
    — Matthew Carey, Deadline, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of thread
Verb
  • Check for dented seams and bulging lids, which can point to food safety issues, recommends Morawetz.
    — Embry Roberts, Martha Stewart, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Her bulging eyes, her piercing shrieks, her casual yet immaculately articulate cruelty all come together to form a cartoonish villain who’s also a commanding delight.
    — Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of bulge
Verb
  • Tension in France French Prime Minister Sebastien Lecornu addressed the nation on Wednesday night, to try and calm the student protests that have raged for more than two weeks.
    — Leonie Kidd, CNBC, 8 Oct. 2026
  • As protests raged at more than 1,200 French high schools this week, police responded with tear gas and rubber bullets in some cases.
    — Reuters, NBC news, 3 Oct. 2026
Definition of rage
Noun
  • In Proserpina, eleven vertical yellow wooden rods, enrobed in layers of gray and maroon wire netting, increase in length around a wire-mesh spiral that reaches three feet at its tallest point.
    — Nicole Rudick, The New York Review of Books, 3 Oct. 2026
  • Multiple wires and devices plugged into a single power outlet.
    — Tarini Mehta, Sacbee.com, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of wire
Verb
  • The awards buzz may prove tough to come by at this point, given that Digger was hit with a C+ CinemaScore from audiences, landing as one of the lowest grades for Cruise’s career, and has polarized critics.
    — Ryan Gajewski, HollywoodReporter, 4 Oct. 2026
  • One of the acts that made a big impression on the youngsters was the Allen Tolbert Unit, whose namesake would captivate them by buzzing up and down his guitar fretboard like a hummingbird in flight.
    — Garret K. Woodward, Rolling Stone, 4 Oct. 2026
Definition of buzz

Browse Nearby Words

briskness
bristle
bristled
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Cite this Entry

“Bristle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristle. Accessed 9 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bristle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bristle

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