BRISTLE Synonyms: 85 Similar and Opposite Words

bristle 1 of 2

noun

ˈbri-səl

Definition of bristle

as in fiber

a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair a hairbrush with plastic bristles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bristle

2 of 2

verb

as in to burst

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to storm

to express one's anger usually violently the man bristled at the accusation, and threatened to file a lawsuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

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 bristle

Noun

The commission said there were four reports of consumers seeking medical treatment after swallowing the metal bristles, and customers were advised to stop using the products and request a replacement nylon grill brush. — Angelique Brenes, PEOPLE, 3 July 2026 Most formulas use a twist or tap brush applicator that channels powder into the bristles for mess-free touch-ups over makeup throughout the day. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 1, Kansas City Star, 2 July 2026

Verb

Luiselli crafts a novel of ideas that challenges the very idea of narrative, yet one that bristles with raw feeling. — Hamilton Cain, Time, 7 July 2026 Herbst bristled at the idea that the existing buildings truly needed that many renovations to safely function as a city hall. — Amanda Rosa, Miami Herald, 3 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for bristle

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristle

Noun

Collectors won’t want to miss The Adobe Fine Art, an award-winning 10,000-foot space filled with oil paintings of cowboys and gunslingers, fiber sculptures of Native American warriors, traditional Pueblo pottery, and much more.

— Allison Savage Bates, Denver Post, 19 July 2026
Avoid Direct Contact With Wooden Surfaces Grandma’s cedar chest may seem like the perfect spot to store clothes; however, direct contact with the natural acids in wood accelerates the chemical breakdown of the fiber and can leave stains.

— Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 18 July 2026

Definition of fiber

Verb

But the comics bubble burst in the early 2000s, right when King was graduating from college.

— Jordan Moreau, Variety, 16 July 2026
In that time, competing tokenization specialists from the crypto industry such as Ondo and Securitize have burst onto the scene, threatening legacy clearing infrastructure through high-profile partnerships with giants including BlackRock.

— Tanaya Macheel, CNBC, 15 July 2026

Definition of burst

Verb

It’s celebrated on July 14 because that’s the day Parisians stormed the Bastille fortress and prison in 1789, helping spark the French Revolution that overthrew the monarchy and sent King Louis XVI and his queen Marie-Antoinette to the guillotine.

— ABC News, ABC News, 14 July 2026
Jenny was left fuming after the stunning admission and eventually stormed off into her tent.

— Abigail Adams, PEOPLE, 14 July 2026

Definition of storm

Verb

My husband Grant Wahl's bulged and burst, at an age when this disease usually means something inherited.

— Dr. Céline Gounder, CBS News, 13 July 2026
With a mouth that can stretch out as wide as rubber and eyes that seem perpetually on the verge of bulging out of their sockets, Campbell is the closest live-action screen actor equivalent cinema has ever had to Bugs Bunny.

— Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 10 July 2026

Definition of bulge

Verb

In January 2025, as the LA wildfires raged, people placed bets on Polymarket, one of the leading prediction market platforms.

— Laura Paddison, CNN Money, 17 July 2026
These two characters have maybe two minutes of screentime between them, and yet a certain portion of the internet, and Elon Musk, have raged, gnashed teeth and howled to the wind about the way this denigrates a Greek classic.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 17 July 2026

Definition of rage

Noun

But Norway were angered by England’s first goal which came after a goal kick appeared to hit an overhead sky camera wire before dropping to Elliot Anderson in the build-up.

— The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 14 July 2026
Pixel control unlocked The system combines a phase-change material with a crossbar network of copper wires similar to those used in display technologies.

— Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 13 July 2026

Definition of wire

Browse Nearby Words

briskness

bristle

bristled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bristle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristle. Accessed 20 Jul. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bristle

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on bristle

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

raffish

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Do you 'say your piece' or 'say your peace'?

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Commonly Misspelled Words

Popular in Wordplay

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

The Longest Long Words List

Ten Words Ending with a Silent ‘T’

Why do we say 'fly off the handle'?

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

14 Phobias You Probably Haven't Heard Of

It's a Scorcher! Words for the Summer Heat

Games & Quizzes