1
as in bursting
to be copiously supplied
a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in storming
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
as in bristly
Related Words
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bristling
Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
As Lorenz Hart — short of stature, fond of drink, bristling with resentment over his professional partner Richard Rodgers’s new success with Oscar Hammerstein on Oklahoma!
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Spicomellus had a back that was probably bristling with sharper spines, along with far larger ones along its outer edges.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
With the neighborhood already bristling with all kinds of MLRS, that will no doubt be the case.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
During a standout setpiece at the restaurant — opened after hours for the celebrity couple, to the bristling resentment of the staff — Tony sufficiently ingratiates himself with the Americans that Jack agrees to read Amin’s script.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
And as politicians, these Supreme Court Justices are especially bristling, equivocating, and entitled, which doesn’t make for trustworthy narration.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Verb
That gives it a bristling relevance.
—Randy Myers, Mercury News, 13 Aug. 2025
Adjective
Bondi’s response was characteristically bristling and evasive; Whitehouse asked about the money seven times, to no avail.
—Ruth Marcus, New Yorker, 20 Oct. 2025
As Lorenz Hart — short of stature, fond of drink, bristling with resentment over his professional partner Richard Rodgers’s new success with Oscar Hammerstein on Oklahoma!
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 16 Sep. 2025
Spicomellus had a back that was probably bristling with sharper spines, along with far larger ones along its outer edges.
—ArsTechnica, 28 Aug. 2025
With the neighborhood already bristling with all kinds of MLRS, that will no doubt be the case.
—Paul Iddon, Forbes.com, 19 Aug. 2025
During a standout setpiece at the restaurant — opened after hours for the celebrity couple, to the bristling resentment of the staff — Tony sufficiently ingratiates himself with the Americans that Jack agrees to read Amin’s script.
—Guy Lodge, Variety, 13 Aug. 2025
And as politicians, these Supreme Court Justices are especially bristling, equivocating, and entitled, which doesn’t make for trustworthy narration.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 5 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristling
Verb
-
Amazon’s fashion section is practically bursting at the seams with functional and stylish fall sweaters.—
Mia Huelsbeck,
PEOPLE,
19 Oct. 2025
-
Broncos’ breakout sophomore RB Dylan Riley did his best Ashton Jeanty impression yet, bursting for 201 yards on just 15 carries, his fourth 100-yard day in his last six games.—
Stewart Mandel,
New York Times,
19 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The college football season has now reached its midway point, and while numerous punishments have already been handed down to programs this year—most stemming from field-storming incidents—Tuesday brought a notable enforcement under a different policy.—
Cole Sullivan,
MSNBC Newsweek,
21 Oct. 2025
-
Jenna Reneau, who was listed as the third official from the Lynx game Reeve was ejected from after storming onto the court following a late no-call that left Napheesa Collier injured, was one of three new hires the NBA announced Wednesday.—
Jace Frederick,
Twin Cities,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
But that hypothesis, Harland wrote in a bristly 1964 Scientific American article, was not supported by any concrete evidence.—
Laura Poppick
July 22,
Literary Hub,
22 July 2025
-
Step 3: Tidy the Harvest When the garlic is fully cured with papery skins and brittle, brown leaves, brush away any excess soil with your fingers and clip back the bristly roots.—
Lauren Landers,
Better Homes & Gardens,
10 Aug. 2024
Verb
-
There’s a fine line between obtrusive service, with servers buzzing like flies around the table, and inattentive service.—
Rachel Bernhard,
jsonline.com,
22 Oct. 2025
-
Rising high above the city’s buzzing Paseo South Gulch district, Pendry Nashville marks a high-design moment for Nashville’s fast-evolving skyline.—
Abby Montanez,
Robb Report,
22 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
Trump has continued his push to help end the Russia-Ukraine war, which has been raging for about 3 1/2 years.—
Ellen Mitchell,
The Hill,
22 Oct. 2025
-
My father’s kind voice ruptured the sound of violence raging around us.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Lead singer Brandon Coleman, as usual, puts forth a commanding, soulful vocal that encapsulates the lyric’s seething exasperation and longing for less division.—
Jessica Nicholson,
Billboard,
6 Oct. 2025
-
After his second impeachment by the House of Representatives in January 2021, there were reports that a seething Trump was not going to pay his personal attorney's legal fees.—
Angel Saunders,
People.com,
2 Sep. 2025
Verb
-
In the scene, when Zoey and Mira catch sight of the guys, their eyes turn into bulging red hearts, then change shape several more times as the attraction escalates.—
Peter Debruge,
Variety,
20 Oct. 2025
-
There's the bug, their main mascot, a green critter with giant bulging eyes.—
Audrey Gibbs,
Nashville Tennessean,
20 Oct. 2025
Verb
-
The lifestyle mogul’s signature fashion collection at QVC is brimming with clothing that bridges this gap, and the Comfort Stretch Boxy Modern Top is the latest example.—
Rachel Trujillo,
PEOPLE,
24 Oct. 2025
-
Wayfair’s closeout section is brimming with top-tier deals; read on for more picks that check all my boxes, including an ambient floor lamp and a stunning area rug.—
Mariana Best,
Better Homes & Gardens,
24 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bristling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristling. Accessed 28 Oct. 2025.
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