Synonyms of bristles

bristles 1 of 2

noun

plural of bristle

as in fibers

a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair

a hairbrush with plastic bristles

Synonyms & Similar Words

• fibers
• threads
• wires
• filaments
• hairs
• tufts
• yarns
• strings
• microfibers
• cords
• ropes
• fuzzes

bristles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bristle

1

as in bursts

to be copiously supplied

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bursts
• buzzes
• bulges
• brims
• hums
• abounds
• teems
• bustles
• overflows
• swarms
• crawls
• pullulates

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• needs
• wants
• lacks

2

as in storms

to express one's anger usually violently

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

Synonyms & Similar Words

• storms
• rages
• fumes
• runs amok
• makes a scene
• fulminates
• foams
• rampages
• blusters
• steams
• raves
• flares (up)
• rants
• frets
• seethes
• flips (out)
• carries on
• smolders
• takes on
• chafes
• blows up
• burns
• stews

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• contains
• curbs
• soothes
• reins
• collects
• allays
• swallows
• restrains
• tones (down)
• pockets
• suppresses
• checks
• composes
• smothers
• chokes (back)
• stifles
• represses
• strangles
• subdues
• moderates
• tempers
• pacifies
• appeases
• eases
• relaxes
• cools
• settles
• calms
• quiets
• stills
• hushes
• quells
• lets up

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of bristles

Noun

The film begins with the religious question of whether young Ilyas is allowed to shave the bristles on his upper lip, leading to a consistent self-consciousness, which appears (and re-appears) as Ilyas imagining extreme close-ups of hair and skin. — Siddhant Adlakha, Variety, 5 Aug. 2026

In landfills, synthetic bristles on paintbrushes can take hundreds of years to degrade, while their plastic handles take up to a thousand years, Silverman said. — ABC News, 3 Aug. 2026

Briceno recommends coating both sides of the brush, wiping away any excess, and making sure the bristles come to a clean edge before applying. — Marci Robin, Allure, 24 July 2026

The same may be true for oral thrush, a yeast infection caused by Candida, because that fungus can also linger on oral surfaces and toothbrush bristles for longer periods of time. — Daryl Austin, USA Today, 20 July 2026

The recall came after 54 reports of bristles detaching—three of which resulted in people receiving medical treatment. — Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 July 2026

Outdoor units usually have a large coil covered with fins and bristles that help regulate the temperature and flow of refrigerant, but these can get easily plugged with dirt, pollen, grass clippings, and other debris. — Sheila Kim, The Spruce, 9 July 2026

Its firm bristles help loosen stains, mineral deposits, and other residue that can build up inside the bowl, making routine cleaning easier and more effective. — Olivia McIntosh, Martha Stewart, 4 July 2026

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

Verb

Because Klaveness is not the only football governor who bristles at the way Infantino does business. — Tom Kludt, Vanity Fair, 17 July 2026

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

Still proud of her pioneer status, Val bristles at this. — Louis Peitzman, Vulture, 11 May 2026

Langley is not the kind of country singer who bristles at the genre’s conventions. — Kelefa Sanneh, New Yorker, 8 May 2026

Anderson bristles at the notion of any one-size-fits-all philosophy to correcting the problem of strikeouts. — Jeff Fletcher, Oc Register, 24 Feb. 2026

Salt, responding to this charge, bristles a touch at being called mainstream and says her taste is more complex. — Max Goldbart, Deadline, 23 Feb. 2026

Shirley bristles at being labeled an influencer in press coverage. — Mia Sato, The Verge, 29 Jan. 2026

As much as Payton bristles about media storylines and huffs about tempo questions, the Broncos went 25 minutes without a first down against Las Vegas. — Troy Renck, Denver Post, 22 Nov. 2025