bridle

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bridle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bridle are check, curb, and restrain. While all these words mean "to hold back from or control in doing something," bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Where would check be a reasonable alternative to bridle?

The meanings of check and bridle largely overlap; however, check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

When could curb be used to replace bridle?

Although the words curb and bridle have much in common, curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

When would restrain be a good substitute for bridle?

The words restrain and bridle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

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 bridle Though there have been just 15 ballot initiatives that became law in Idaho in more than 112 years, the state GOP has increasingly bridled at successful signature drives, which have led to Medicaid expansion and higher education funding. Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2025 On the ground, soldiers bridled at having to fight an impossible, unpopular war, and turmoil spread through the ranks. Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025 Some diplomats bridle at the very idea of haggling with the Taliban, saying that the rights of women and girls are nonnegotiable. Delaney Simon, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2025 Tchaikovsky’s symphonic ambitions bridle against their keyboard constraints in his early C-sharp sonata; Trifonov tapped both fluidity and clarity out of the bloat. Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 Nov. 2024 See All Example Sentences for bridle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bridle
Verb
  • With McDavid on the ice, the Oilers are controlling 69 percent of chances at even strength.
    James Mirtle, New York Times, 29 Apr. 2025
  • Instead, Merz says, HPV probably increases the risk of heart disease by causing inflammation, which occurs as the immune system attempts to control the virus.
    Liz Szabo, Scientific American, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Its double-sided design keeps your body temperature regulated all night long, with one side made of cool gel memory and the other of breathable bamboo viscose.
    Toni Sutton, People.com, 27 Apr. 2025
  • The panelists agreed that a focused, narrow bill regulating stablecoins could help cement the U.S. dollar’s dominance in a digital future.
    Nik Popli, Time, 26 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump executive order takes 'strong action' to curb fentanyl flow from Chinese imports Iowa Attorney Gen. Brenna Bird voices her support for a Trump executive order to close a trade loophole to curb the flow of fentanyl in the U.S. and Democrats' struggle to connect with voters.
    Peter D'Abrosca, FOXNews.com, 23 Apr. 2025
  • China’s one-child policy, which was in place from 1979 until 2015 to curb population growth by limiting most families to one child, is one topic the young filmmaker says his current cinematic creations deal with.
    Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • The Trump administration has characterized that role as one for suckers, in which the United States restrained its hard power and allowed other countries to bleed its wealth.
    Margaret MacMillan, The Atlantic, 30 Apr. 2025
  • The amateur gangsters, with nicknames like Old Omar and Blue Eyes, used tape and velcro to restrain Kardashian and left their DNA everywhere.
    Eleanor Beardsley, NPR, 29 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • So Koester compiled a database that now contains more than 500,000 missing person searches dating back to the 1970s.
    N'dea Yancey-Bragg, USA Today, 3 May 2025
  • Summary The gut microbiome contains many microorganisms.
    Amber J. Tresca, Verywell Health, 2 May 2025
Verb
  • The aviation industry expects the exemption to help companies keep costs down during a sharp pullback in travel spending by consumers worried about slower economic growth and higher inflation.
    Rajesh Kumar Singh, USA Today, 29 Apr. 2025
  • There is plenty to keep the Forest faithful enthused until the end of the season.
    Zak Garner-Purkis, Forbes.com, 28 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • That puts the Federal Reserve in an even more challenging position, as policymakers may have to choose between cushioning the economy, which would suggest lower interest rates, or taming inflation by keeping borrowing costs high.
    Bloomberg, Mercury News, 4 Apr. 2025
  • The Fed is torn between helping economic growth or taming inflation.
    Jim Cramer, CNBC, 4 Apr. 2025
Verb
  • Trump 100 days: Former president's success created measuring stick for future leaders Poll: Trump loses trust on the economy as 100-day mark nears From Trump to Reagan: Their first 100 days Trump promised to improve the economy on Day 1.
    Swapna Venugopal Ramaswamy, USA Today, 4 May 2025
  • According to satellite expert Marco Langbroek, the impact speed of the probe, which measures about 3.2 feet across, might be around 150 miles per hour.
    Toria Sheffield, People.com, 3 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bridle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bridle. Accessed 7 May. 2025.

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