BRISTLY Synonyms: 34 Similar and Opposite Words

bristly

adjective

ˈbris-lē

Definition of bristly

as in shaggy

covered with or as if with hair although pigs look hairless, they're actually bristly creatures

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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 bristly 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 Called Utah arrays, they are made of hard silicon and look a bit like the bristly part of a hairbrush. — WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022 Thirteen Lives reminds me of Ron Howard's Apollo 13 for its bristly character moments, people caught in extremis. — Joshua Rothkopf, EW.com, 6 Aug. 2022 Hedgehogs are small mammals, known for their coats, which are covered with bristly spines. — Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2021 See All Example Sentences for bristly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristly

Adjective

Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and mix with a wooden spoon or sturdy spatula until a shaggy dough forms.

— ABC News, ABC News, 15 Aug. 2026
Pixie shag Somewhere between pixie and bixie lies this shaggy devil-may-care crop.

— Loren Savini, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of shaggy

Adjective

These vines will also happily wind their way around tree trunks and shrubs and fix themselves in place with small rootlets that take on a hairy appearance as poison ivy plants mature.

— Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2026
Her work often features naked women, sagging breasts, and hairy legs.

— Tania Azhang, Sacbee.com, 26 July 2026

Definition of hairy

Adjective

Boron nitride gives the formula its silky slip and creates a blurring effect, while avocado oil adds conditioning moisture so a matte doesn’t look like skin is parched.

— Christa Joanna Lee, Allure, 14 Aug. 2026
That’s the promise of Vuori’s silky-soft performance material, which is designed to naturally shed creases and also offers four-way stretch and moisture-wicking properties.

— Lauren Dana Ellman, Travel + Leisure, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of silky

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bristling

bristly

britches

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“Bristly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristly. Accessed 19 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of bristly

adjective

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