bristly

adjective

bris·​tly ˈbris-lē 

ˈbri-sə-

bristlier; bristliest

1

a

: thickly set with bristles

a bristly shrub

b

: consisting of or resembling bristles

a bristly mustache

2

: inclined to or showing aggressiveness or anger

a bristly temperament

Synonyms of bristly

• shaggy
• hairy
• silky

Examples of bristly in a Sentence

although pigs look hairless, they're actually bristly creatures

Recent Examples on the Web

There are similarities between the two cities — hard-working people who can be bristly, but also kind and genuine. — James Pearce, New York Times, 20 July 2026

During the summer ski jumping season when competitors slide down ceramic or porcelain tracks and land on bristly plastic mats, the team tried to adjust to the new ski suit dimensions. — Brian Melley, Chicago Tribune, 23 Jan. 2026

Their typically bristly fur is peppered with shades of brown and gray, with a white underbelly. — Marina Watts, PEOPLE, 16 Jan. 2026

And my father—lovable but imposing, a strapping six feet three inches tall with a thick, bristly mustache and a rumbling Sergeant Schultz accent that frightened my friends half to death—loved to tell stories. — CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

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