Synonyms of bristled

bristled

verb

past tense of bristle

1

as in buzzed

to be copiously supplied

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• buzzed
• burst
• hummed
• bulged
• brimmed
• abounded
• swarmed
• bustled
• teemed
• crawled
• overflowed
• pullulated

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• needed
• wanted
• lacked

2

as in stormed

to express one's anger usually violently

the man bristled at the accusation, and threatened to file a lawsuit

Synonyms & Similar Words

• stormed
• raged
• fumed
• rampaged
• raved
• ranted
• blustered
• made a scene
• ran amok
• steamed
• seethed
• fulminated
• fretted
• carried on
• foamed
• smoldered
• flared (up)
• flipped (out)
• chafed
• stewed
• took on
• blew up
• burned

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contained
• composed
• collected
• soothed
• suppressed
• checked
• swallowed
• restrained
• stifled
• subdued
• smothered
• tempered
• repressed
• strangled
• choked (back)
• appeased
• eased
• relaxed
• allayed
• pacified
• moderated
• curbed
• reined
• pocketed
• cooled
• settled
• quieted
• calmed
• stilled
• toned (down)
• hushed
• quelled
• let up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bristled

The moment is a test for the UAE government, which has burnished a reputation for building effective measures against extremist activities but also has bristled in the past over criticism of security lapses. — Sam Mednick, Los Angeles Times, 2 Oct. 2026

Sonorous jaws bristled with the thick chin hairs of your least-favourite grandmother. — Literary Hub, 22 Sep. 2026

In this case, though, the defense bristled, forcing Indy to settle for a game-tying field goal that in turn enabled the Chiefs to prevail 33-30 on Harrison Butker’s 40-yard field goal on the last play of overtime. — Kansas City Star, 21 Sep. 2026

Lawrence bristled at that charge, noting that he's been protesting data centers since last fall when a wave of new projects was proposed across the district and the state. — ABC News, 19 Sep. 2026

Bueno bristled at the notion that city residents' confidence in the 911 system could be shaken by the call. — David Clarey, jsonline.com, 26 Aug. 2026

Multiple sources tell Rambling there were creative differences between Ellis and HBO — hardly a shock given that the author has bristled at adaptations of his work for 25 years, since American Psycho. — Benjamin Svetkey, HollywoodReporter, 12 Aug. 2026

At a busy early voting site on Madison's north side, even some of Hong's supporters bristled at some of her controversial positions. — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 10 Aug. 2026

When some senators pressed him on the memos’ content, Roberts bristled. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 10 Aug. 2026