Merriam-Webster Logo
SINCE 1828
Menu
dictionary thesaurus

Thesaurus

bristle

noun

Synonyms and Antonyms of bristle

a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair
  • a hairbrush with plastic bristles
Synonyms of bristle

fiber, filament, hair, thread
Words Related to bristle

microfiber

cord, rope, string, wire, yarn

fuzz, tuft

bristle

verb

Synonyms and Antonyms of bristle

1 to be copiously supplied
  • a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities
Synonyms of bristle

abound, brim, bulge, burst, bustle, buzz, crawl, hum, overflow, pullulate, swarm, teem
Near Antonyms of bristle

lack, need, want
2 to express oneʼs anger usually violently
  • the man bristled at the accusation, and threatened to file a lawsuit
Synonyms of bristle

fume, rage, storm
Words Related to bristle

blow up, flare (up), flip (out) [slang]

bluster, carry on, fulminate, rampage, rant, rave, take on

burn, foam, seethe, smolder (or smoulder), steam

chafe, fret, stew
Phrases Synonymous with bristle

make a scene, run amok (or run amuck)
Near Antonyms of bristle

allay, appease, pacify, soothe

check, choke (back), collect, compose, contain, curb, pocket, rein, repress, restrain, smother, stifle, strangle, subdue, suppress, swallow

moderate, temper, tone (down)

ease, let up, relax

calm, cool, hush, quell, quiet, settle, still

Learn More about bristle

  1. See words that rhyme with bristle Dictionary: Definition of bristle Medical Dictionary: Definition of bristle Spanish Central: Translation of bristle Nglish: Translation of bristle for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of bristle for Arabic speakers Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bristle

Seen and Heard

What made you want to look up bristle? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).

show comments hide comments

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

WORD OF THE DAY

disavow

to deny responsibility for

Get Word of the Day daily email!

TRENDING NOW

  1. feckless Former RNC chair derides Trump

  2. emergency, national emergency Trump declares crisis over wall

  3. apoplectic Bezos writes post about Pecker

SEE ALL

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Words at Play

Ask the Editors

Word Games