bridle

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noun bri·dle \ ˈbrī-dᵊl \

Definition of bridle

1 :the headgear with which a horse is governed and which carries a bit (see ¹bit 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

See bridle defined for English-language learners

See bridle defined for kids

Recent Examples of bridle from the Web

He was found at the bottom of a bridle trail just off the Egbert picnic area.

— adam ferrise, cleveland.com, "Teen who died in Tinker's Creek in Bedford identified," 4 July 2017
Mark Cross was founded in 1845 as the maker of the finest harnesses, saddles, and bridles in America.

— andrea cheng, Billboard, "How This 200-Year-Old Brand Reinvented Itself (And Became The Celebrity 'It' Bag In The Process)," 27 June 2017
Convinced that Trump and his Republican allies are largely to blame for the nation’s acrimonious political discourse, many bridle over any suggestion to the contrary.

— erica werner, The Seattle Times, "Dems bridle as some in GOP blame shooting on the left," 15 June 2017
In the rural-feeling neighborhood, unpaved bridle trails provide easy access to the High Line Canal Trail, and Glenmoor Country Club and the city’s Blackmer Common park are also nearby.

— emilie rusch, The Denver Post, "$9.5M modern estate offers seamless indoor-outdoor living in the heart of Cherry Hills Village," 15 Feb. 2017

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.

Origin and Etymology of bridle

Middle English bridel, from Old English brīdel; akin to Old English bregdan to move quickly — more at braid

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

Other Equestrian Terms

canter, cantle, curry, farrier, hunter, paddock, router, skirt, tack

bridle

verb

Definition of bridle

bridled; bridling play \ˈbrīd-liŋ, ˈbrī-dᵊl-iŋ\

transitive verb

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

See bridle defined for English-language learners

Examples of bridle in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of bridle from the Web

Something that once moderated our partisan feelings and bridled our baser instincts has gone missing in an era of unprecedented polarization.

— orrin g. hatch, Time, "Sen. Orrin Hatch: I Am Re-Committing to Civility," 28 June 2017
Over time, Mr. Trump bridled and demanded the unstructured time he had so valued as an executive at Trump Tower.

— philip bump, Washington Post, "Trump has now made 33 visits to Trump-branded properties since his inauguration," 5 May 2017
The countries of Eastern and Central Europe have long bridled at being treated like the poor cousins of the European Union family.

— rick lyman, New York Times, "Fewer Tomatoes in Ketchup? East Europeans Pursue Parity at the Grocery," 9 Apr. 2017
As a real-estate developer, Trump was, for many years, an energetic anonymous source (even to salt the local papers with news about himself), but Trump has bridled against the scrutiny applied to every President since Cleveland.

— evan osnos, The New Yorker, "Can the White House Pick Its Press?," 25 Feb. 2017

Origin and Etymology of bridle

Middle English bridlen, going back to Old English brīdlian, verbal derivative of brīdel ¹bridle

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: before 12th century

See Words from the same year

bridle Synonyms

Synonyms

control, check, constrain, contain, curb, govern, hold, inhibit, keep, measure, pull in, regulate, rein (in), restrain, rule, tame

Antonyms

lose

Related Words

bottle (up), choke (back), hold back, mince, muffle, pocket, repress, sink, smother, squelch, stifle, strangle, suppress, swallow; arrest, interrupt, stop; block, hamper, handcuff, hinder, impede, obstruct; gag, muzzle, silence

Near Antonyms

liberate, loose, loosen, unleash; air, express, take out, vent

Synonym Discussion of bridle

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

BRIDLE Defined for English Language Learners

bridle

play

noun

Definition of bridle for English Language Learners

: a device that fits on a horse's head and that is used for guiding and controlling the horse

bridle

verb

Definition of bridle for English Language Learners

: to put a bridle on (a horse)
: to react in an angry way

BRIDLE Defined for Kids

bridle

play

noun bri·dle \ ˈbrī-dᵊl \

Definition of bridle for Students

:a device for controlling a horse made up of a set of straps enclosing the head, a bit, and a pair of reins

bridle

verb

Definition of bridle for Students

bridled; bridling \ˈbrīd-liŋ, ˈbrī-dᵊl-iŋ\

1 :to put a bridle on

bridle a horse

2 :restrain 2

He tried to bridle his anger.

3 :to hold the head high and draw in the chin as an expression of resentment

Medical Dictionary

bridle

play

noun bri·dle \ ˈbrīd-ᵊl \

medical Definition of bridle

:frenulum

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See words that rhyme with bridle Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for bridle Spanish Central: Translation of bridle Nglish: Translation of bridle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bridle for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bridle

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Origin and Etymology of bridle

Other Equestrian Terms

bridle

Definition of bridle

Examples of bridle in a Sentence

Recent Examples of bridle from the Web

Origin and Etymology of bridle

bridle Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

Related Words

Near Antonyms

Synonym Discussion of bridle

BRIDLE Defined for English Language Learners

bridle

Definition of bridle for English Language Learners

bridle

Definition of bridle for English Language Learners

BRIDLE Defined for Kids

bridle

Definition of bridle for Students

bridle

Definition of bridle for Students

Medical Dictionary

bridle

medical Definition of bridle

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