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
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Recent Examples of bristles
Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Brushes designed specifically for camera lenses have ultrasoft bristles to gently lift dust and particles without scratching the glass.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Others argued that the disordered proteins don’t interact with each other much, but rather constantly undulate like bristles on a brush.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
Replace your brush every three months, or sooner if the bristles fray.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
Scrub the feet as well, getting the little bristles inside to remove any mold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Many reach for a small, flat brush with bristles that are denser at the base and finer at the tips—almost like a wide-tooth comb—to carve ultra-precise ridges that feel architectural yet delicate.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Feb. 2026
Its fine bristles can help break down grime.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
Instead of natural hair, this manual face brush features incredibly soft nylon bristles that are even gentler on the skin.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
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
Ross bristles at the comparison.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Noun
Many have wind‑catching bristles.
—Literary Hub, 25 Mar. 2026
Brushes designed specifically for camera lenses have ultrasoft bristles to gently lift dust and particles without scratching the glass.
—Jacob Little, Space.com, 14 Mar. 2026
Others argued that the disordered proteins don’t interact with each other much, but rather constantly undulate like bristles on a brush.
—Yasemin Saplakoglu, Quanta Magazine, 9 Mar. 2026
Replace your brush every three months, or sooner if the bristles fray.
—Cody Godwin, USA Today, 8 Mar. 2026
Scrub the feet as well, getting the little bristles inside to remove any mold.
—Brandee Gruener, Southern Living, 28 Feb. 2026
Many reach for a small, flat brush with bristles that are denser at the base and finer at the tips—almost like a wide-tooth comb—to carve ultra-precise ridges that feel architectural yet delicate.
—Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 27 Feb. 2026
Its fine bristles can help break down grime.
—Asia London Palomba, The Spruce, 27 Feb. 2026
Instead of natural hair, this manual face brush features incredibly soft nylon bristles that are even gentler on the skin.
—Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 25 Feb. 2026
Verb
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
Ross bristles at the comparison.
—Tom Roland, Billboard, 12 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristles
Noun
-
While other plant fibers have been explored, this team was the first to harness the unique grain profiles of bourbon stillage.—
Mrigakshi Dixit,
Interesting Engineering,
25 Mar. 2026
-
With both these highly transparent fibers and more mature lasers to create light pulses, long-distance optical communication was born.—
John Ballato,
The Conversation,
24 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts.—
,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
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
Verb
-
Her humiliation is laid bare for everyone in the room — the Easter brunch has gone totally awry — and Ines storms out at the end of her performance.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
20 Mar. 2026
-
High pressure also spins clockwise, deflecting moisture and storms off to the north and keeping dry air underneath it.—
Zoe Mintz,
CBS News,
15 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Throughout, there are instances where the filmmakers, in their effort to craft an intricate, humanistic mosaic, leave some compelling threads unexplored in favor of moving the story along.—
Carlos Aguilar,
IndieWire,
20 Mar. 2026
-
Those threads likely ran through the retrograde and may still be unfolding now.—
Hanna Wickes,
Miami Herald,
20 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
The space buzzes with the energy of collective creativity and collaboration.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
19 Mar. 2026
-
The air buzzes with light music and the sound of the espresso machine as Victoria Semerei, absorbed in a book, lounges in a chair.—
Eleanor Beardsley,
NPR,
17 Mar. 2026
Verb
-
As labor complications ensue, a blizzard rages outside trapping the family in their home – sitting ducks for whatever sinister presence might be in there with them.—
William Earl,
Variety,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The military operation included hits on ballistic missile storage facilities, according to reports, as war rages on in the Middle East.—
Washington Examiner Staff,
The Washington Examiner,
24 Mar. 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
-
Cecilia, or, Memoirs of an Heiress brims with irony, withering dialogue, psychosocial revelation and astute moral inquiry.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
16 Mar. 2026
-
The night brims with awe-striking phenomena—not just stars and auroras but glowing mushrooms, sparkly plankton, bustling night markets, and shimmery fireflies.—
Stephanie Vermillion,
Outside,
16 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bristles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristles. Accessed 30 Mar. 2026.
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