bridle

noun

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bri·dle | \ ˈbrī-dᵊl

Definition of bridle

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : the headgear with which a horse is governed and which carries a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 2a) and reins

2 : a length of line or cable attached to two parts of something (such as a ship) to spread the force of a pull especially : rigging on a kite for attaching line

3 : curb, restraint set a bridle on his power

bridle

verb

bridled; bridling\ ˈbrīd-liŋ

, ˈbrī-dᵊl-iŋ \

Definition of bridle (Entry 2 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to put a harness with which a horse is governed on the head of : to put a bridle (see bridle entry 1 sense 1) on bridle a horse

2 : to restrain, check, or control with or as if with a bridle bridle your tongue was forced to bridle her anger

intransitive verb

: to show hostility or resentment (as to an affront to one's pride or dignity) especially by drawing back the head and chin military commanders who had bridled against … interference — Time

Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Phrases Containing bridle Learn More About bridle

Choose the Right Synonym for bridle

Verb

restrain, check, curb, bridle mean to hold back from or control in doing something. restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes. restrained themselves from laughing check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus. trying to check government spending curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking. learn to curb your appetite bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in. bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Examples of bridle in a Sentence

Verb try to bridle your criticism next time so that it is helpful and not hurtful

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun For most passenger cars, like Subarus, this means ordering an additional tow eyelet and a static strap so that a bridle can be created between the two eyelets on the front of your car. — Wes Siler, Outside Online, 31 May 2021 Based on an actual torture device, the bridle is outfitted with bells that would have alerted slaveholders to any movement. — Shantay Robinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2022 There are decorative bronze pendants from a bridle used by a cavalry officer, and a delicate doll’s leg, made out of bone, that was once played with by a child. — Nick Squires, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2021 Set the Tone, a 2-year-old filly, lost her rider during training, the bridle came loose and the saddle slipped underneath her. — Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2021 The artifact, which may have been part of a bridle or harness, appeared as though it might have been dropped in the ice the just day before – our guides even recognized the technique of traditional manufacture. — William Taylor, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2021 The prongs of faith and duty: two sides of a bridle. — Emily Bernard, The New Yorker, 25 June 2020 Activities: Golf, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, plus 70 miles of bridle trails and a horse camp. — Susan Glaser, cleveland, 7 June 2020 Mount Airy Forest Mount Airy Forest can be accessed from Mount Airy and Westwood and the park's 1,459 acres include miles of hiking trails, bridle trails. — Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, 24 Apr. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Adaptive dampers and air springs bridle the mass with authoritative control. — K.c. Colwell, Car and Driver, 4 Oct. 2021 Left to its own devices, the virus could hypothetically bridle itself. — Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 June 2021 Right-wing politicians who bridle at lockdown restrictions are as angry as the left-wing climate protesters who regularly clog Trafalgar Square in London as part of the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations. — New York Times, 23 Mar. 2021 Wild horses might drag the people of China away from their tyrannical government, but rather than shoot the horses in true Soviet style, the CCP has decided to break and bridle them instead. — Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 1 Oct. 2020 For weeks, neither did many Italians, who alternately obeyed and bridled at the restrictions imposed on them. — Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2020 Trump has bridled at findings that Russia mounted a massive effort to attack his 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, and by doing so boost his candidacy. — Alan Levin, Bloomberg.com, 12 Jan. 2020 Companies with a lot of independent contractors on their books have bridled, in some cases preposterously. — Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2019 The smooth, adult bent of Nashville continued into the '60s, sparking another rebellion among a loose crew of musicians who bridled at the restrictions imposed on them. — Randy Lewis, chicagotribune.com, 9 Sep. 2019 See More

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'bridle.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.