bristle

1 of 2

noun

bris·​tle ˈbri-səl 

: a short stiff coarse hair or filament

hog bristles

short bristle paint brushes

bristlelike

ˈbri-sə(l)-ˌlīk 

adjective

bristle

2 of 2

verb

bristled; bristling ˈbris-liŋ 

ˈbri-sə-

transitive verb

1

: to furnish with short stiff coarse hairs or filaments : to furnish with bristles

2

: to make aggressive or angry : to make bristly : ruffle

intransitive verb

1

a

: to rise and stand stiffly erect

quills bristling

b

: to raise the bristles (as in anger)

a snarling, bristling dog

2

: to take on an aggressively defensive attitude (as in response to a slight or criticism)

He bristled at the accusations of corruption.

3

a

: to be full of or covered with especially something suggestive of bristles

roofs bristled with chimneys

b

: to be full of something specified

… book bristles with detail and irony.

—William J. Broad

Synonyms of bristle

Noun

• fiber
• thread
• wire
• hair

Verb

• burst
• bulge
• buzz

Examples of bristle in a Sentence

Noun

a face covered with bristles

the bristles of a brush

Verb

Electricity makes your hair bristle.

a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Each silhouette is thoughtfully designed with unique features tailored to beauty and travel needs like separate packing compartments to keep products organized, palette storage for makeup, brush holders to protect bristles, travel mirrors, and removable pouches that double as chic clutches. —ABC News, 16 June 2026

The bristles are pretty soft, and there's a mult-ridge tongue cleaner located on the back of the brush. —Olivia Bria, Travel + Leisure, 10 June 2026

Verb

Young Washington, a new biopic, gives us pre-Revolutionary George, early-20s George, pale, petulant, virginal, ramrod-straight, and bristling with awkwardness and ambition. —James Parker, The Atlantic, 16 June 2026

Hollis buries herself in work in an attempt to escape her complicated grief, while aspiring filmmaker Caroline copes by making snarky remarks and bristling at her mom's efforts to connect. —Clarissa Cruz, Entertainment Weekly, 16 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun

Middle English bristil, from brust bristle, from Old English byrst; akin to Old High German burst bristle, and perhaps to Latin fastigium top

Verb

verbal derivative of bristle entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Verb

15th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing bristle

• bristle with (something)
• bristle worm

Rhymes for bristle

• abyssal
• dismissal
• epistle
• fissile
• gristle
• missal
• missile
• nissl
• thistle
• whistle

Kids Definition

bristle

1 of 2 noun

bris·​tle ˈbris-əl 

: a short stiff hair or something like a hair

bristled

-əld

adjective

bristly

-(ə-)lē

adjective

bristle

2 of 2 verb

bristled; bristling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

: to rise up and stiffen like bristles

makes your hair bristle

quills bristling in all directions

2

: to show signs of anger

bristled at the insult

3

: to appear as if covered with bristles

a harbor bristling with the masts of ships

bristly

-(ə-)lē

adjective

Medical Definition

bristle

noun

bris·​tle ˈbris-əl 

: a short stiff coarse hair or filament