1
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
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 bristles
Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
The rubber or metal bristles effectively grab pet hair without damaging the underlying fibers.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
The side with the brown mascara has thin, precise bristles that helped separate my lashes to look like tiny spider legs rather than a clumpy bowl of cake batter.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
As one of the few people to have manned those sleds, Kasper Damsø bristles at the remark.
—Lisa Abend, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
Gently sweeping with a brush and using its bristles to collect genetic material from manuscripts has been used with success in the past by Meiklejohn and her colleagues.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
The broom head should not be submerged in the water—just the bottom half of the bristles.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Turn it back upright, using the bristles to brush away the remaining snow.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
To make the bristles even softer, wrap them in a small dishcloth before using.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 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
Ross bristles at the comparison.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
Esparza says that this gentle, sulfate-free cleanser removes oils and pigments without stripping bristles.
—Taryn Brooke, Glamour, 22 Jan. 2026
The rubber or metal bristles effectively grab pet hair without damaging the underlying fibers.
—Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 22 Jan. 2026
The side with the brown mascara has thin, precise bristles that helped separate my lashes to look like tiny spider legs rather than a clumpy bowl of cake batter.
—Alyssa Grabinski, PEOPLE, 18 Jan. 2026
As one of the few people to have manned those sleds, Kasper Damsø bristles at the remark.
—Lisa Abend, Time, 18 Jan. 2026
Gently sweeping with a brush and using its bristles to collect genetic material from manuscripts has been used with success in the past by Meiklejohn and her colleagues.
—Ashley Strickland, CNN Money, 16 Jan. 2026
The broom head should not be submerged in the water—just the bottom half of the bristles.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 11 Jan. 2026
Turn it back upright, using the bristles to brush away the remaining snow.
—Lee Wallender, The Spruce, 8 Jan. 2026
To make the bristles even softer, wrap them in a small dishcloth before using.
—Michele Laufik, Martha Stewart, 7 Jan. 2026
Verb
Richard initially bristles at the idea because the potential complications could impact his work as a surgeon and his personal life.
—Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 15 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
Ross bristles at the comparison.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristles
Noun
-
Using tools only of stone, bone, and shell, Islanders made wooden spears and clubs, and canoes built from planks stitched together with plant fibers and fitted with outriggers.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Never Wash Items Contaminated With Flammable Substances Lo Choe, licensed contractor and owner of Aura Fire Safety, cautioned against putting anything saturated with gasoline or other flammables into a washing machine because residue can remain in fibers and create a serious safety hazard.—
Alesandra Dubin,
Southern Living,
28 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Once a cushioned conduit to the other side, the casket now bursts with the wisdom of a life lived outside the box.—
Elizabeth Hernandez,
Denver Post,
16 Oct. 2025
-
Later, as the film plays, the crowd bursts intermittently into laughter, cracking up at the clown-car quality of everyone piling into the van for the first time.—
Roxana Hadadi,
Vulture,
14 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
That turns out to be a mistake, since a commando team soon storms his island with orders to kill him on sight.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
28 Jan. 2026
-
Venita then storms out rather than talk to Salley and confront it.—
Brian Moylan,
Vulture,
15 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Look for threads with questions that haven’t been answered, attachments awaiting updates or decisions that require alignment.—
Sho Dewan,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
-
When the shooting happened, the videos quickly moved from individual smartphones to Reddit threads, YouTube channels and social media feeds.—
Brian Stelter,
CNN Money,
25 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
This hotel buzzes with young style- and budget-conscious travelers.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Jan. 2026
-
Getty Images Of the nine players in the Rays’ batting order Opening Day 2025 against the visiting Rockies, only four remain with the club less than one month before Charlotte Sports Park buzzes with activity that signals the start of spring training.—
Tom Layberger,
Forbes.com,
17 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
To this day, the wave of violence rages on in Sinaloa and other states where the cartel has influence.—
Gonzalo Zegarra,
CNN Money,
26 Jan. 2026
-
War rages on The election has been widely dismissed by international observers and governments as illegitimate.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
According to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS), a brain aneurysm is a weakened area in an artery that bulges outward and fills with blood.—
Lucy Notarantonio,
MSNBC Newsweek,
27 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
When time stops one hot summer day and the road out vanishes, not everyone is displeased with the changes, even when the sparse little woods turn into an impassable forest and the river brims with strange, seductive voices.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
5 Dec. 2025
-
Overall, researchers discovered a rich world in one of the most remote regions in the world — one that brims with artistic and architectural integrity.—
Maria Mocerino,
Interesting Engineering,
26 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bristles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristles. Accessed 29 Jan. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
