bristles 1 of 2

Definition of bristlesnext
plural of bristle
as in fibers
a thin, flexible structure that resembles a hair a hairbrush with plastic bristles

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

bristles

2 of 2

verb

present tense third-person singular of bristle

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
Noun
There is a slider on the left side to pop out the cleaning bristles, and underneath is a microfiber surface. Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 30 Apr. 2026 India bristles as Pakistan has its diplomatic moment Indian political elites are discomforted by regional rival Pakistan’s outsized role in US-Iran peace talks, but there are some bright spots for New Delhi, analysts argued. Semafor Events, semafor.com, 24 Apr. 2026 And finally, follow the American Dental Association’s guidelines1 of when to replace toothbrushes, which is every three to four months for adults (or, if the bristles become frayed), and more often for children. Elizabeth Brownfield, Southern Living, 23 Apr. 2026 Wyle bristles at the idea that Robby must remain a saint, or that this is out of step with who Robby was from the start. Kathryn Vanarendonk, Vulture, 17 Apr. 2026 If pride bristles, breathe and frame feedback as an invitation to make the work shine brighter than any ego. Tarot.com, Hartford Courant, 16 Apr. 2026 In February, Weber voluntarily recalled 3 million brushes after at least 38 reports of small wire bristles breaking, including four reports of consumers swallowing bristles. Carolyn Gusoff, CBS News, 14 Apr. 2026 Its stiff, natural coir bristles will grab onto mud and dirt that often comes with the arrival of spring weather. Brittany Vanderbill, Better Homes & Gardens, 13 Apr. 2026 Since rats can’t chew through metal bristles, these provide better protection than standard rubber sweeps. Rae Ford, Martha Stewart, 4 Apr. 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 Durham skillfully builds the insular world of a top Russian ballet school, and the atmosphere bristles with competition, flirtation, and intrigue. April Austin, Christian Science Monitor, 27 Feb. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristles
Noun
  • The two companies didn't detail specifics about what's being developed, but CNBC's Katie Tarasov reports that the chipmaker is likely preparing to replace copper in its AI rack-scale systems with Corning's optical glass fibers.
    Davis Giangiulio,Alex Harring, CNBC, 6 May 2026
  • The physician Louis Westenra Sambon, a British doctor of Italian descent, developed a fabric woven with specific colors and fibers to reflect some of the sun’s radiation and reduce risks from prolonged exposure to intense sunlight.
    Andrea Onate, Footwear News, 6 May 2026
Verb
  • Haaland bursts our bubble almost immediately by scoring in the opening five minutes, and Burnley miss a few good first-half chances, with striker Zian Flemming particularly culpable.
    Nnamdi Onyeagwara, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2026
  • The 60-year immigration bubble finally bursts.
    , FOXNews.com, 29 Jan. 2026
Verb
  • Blanche says on Monday that the noises correspond with the time the suspect allegedly storms the Secret Service security checkpoint on the floor above the ballroom.
    Bill Hutchinson, ABC News, 28 Apr. 2026
  • Inflamed by Ratansen’s adviser’s account of Padmavati’s beauty, Alauddin Khalji storms the fortress by treachery rather than valor.
    Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Apr. 2026
Noun
  • The book is lyrically written and highly informative, diving deep into the common threads and tropes of estrangement in search of clarity.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 28 Apr. 2026
  • The Baker-Burke moment at Dodger Stadium remains the most widely cited, but the Louisville claim carries real weight — and the cultural threads running through military history and Black American vernacular suggest the gesture may not have had a single inventor at all.
    Hanna Wickes, Charlotte Observer, 27 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Meanwhile, the boarding house buzzes around him.
    Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 26 Apr. 2026
  • At night, Bar Dryce buzzes with hip city-dwellers and, on weekends, DJ sets.
    Regan Stephens, Travel + Leisure, 24 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • While speculation rages amongst industry experts over the fate of summer travel, residents are still eager to get away from home.
    Pat Maio, Oc Register, 2 May 2026
  • There’s something about it that rages and burns, especially among young women who process their emotions through melody and melodrama.
    Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 28 Apr. 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
  • Euphoria Retreat brims with a sense of place from the Greek mountain herb tea to the lemon trees in the garden, but its medicines and its wisdom has a truly global embrace.
    Condé Nast, Condé Nast Traveler, 6 May 2026
  • The Berries and Brunost Waffle brims with sweet Norwegian brown cheese (brunost) and lingonberry jam, a nod to the area’s Norwegian heritage.
    Sarah Miller, Midwest Living, 29 Apr. 2026

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bristles.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristles. Accessed 7 May. 2026.

More from Merriam-Webster on bristles

Love words? Need even more definitions?

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

More from Merriam-Webster