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 And my father—lovable but imposing, a strapping six feet three inches tall with a thick, bristly mustache and a rumbling Sergeant Schultz accent that frightened my friends half to death—loved to tell stories. — CBS News, 5 Dec. 2025 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 See All Example Sentences for bristly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristly

Adjective

Abrams’ shaggy appeal as the everyman hero who somehow manages to overcome every obstacle thrown in his way, including the most monstrous creatures Cregger and his talented creative team could devise, is a key factor in the film’s success.

— Frank Scheck, HollywoodReporter, 16 Sep. 2026
Designed by Matthieu Blazy, the white column dress featured shaggy sections of black fabric and an asymmetrical, one-shoulder neckline.

— Julia Teti, Footwear News, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of shaggy

Adjective

Hirta is Latin for hairy, and the plant’s stems do feel rough to the touch.

— Sheryl DeVore, Chicago Tribune, 15 Sep. 2026
For millions of years, Pacific mastodons — huge, hairy relatives of modern elephants — roamed a vast and lush range that included California, Oregon, the northern Rocky Mountains and parts of Mexico.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 10 Sep. 2026

Definition of hairy

Adjective

The silky mattes go on without streaking (like some other inexpensive shadows might) along lashlines, over lids, and through creases for so many possible looks and so many color options (there are nine versions of the palette).

— Elizabeth Siegel, Allure, 17 Sep. 2026
Billboard also has an exclusive behind-the-scenes video of Jung Kook posing for the campaign, showing off his silky dance moves and applauding at the end of a successful shoot.

— Alicia Urrea, Billboard, 16 Sep. 2026

Definition of silky

Browse Nearby Words

bristling

bristly

britches

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“Bristly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristly. Accessed 23 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of bristly

adjective

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