bristled; bristling
ˈbris-liŋ 
ˈbri-sə-
1
: to furnish with short stiff coarse hairs or filaments : to furnish with bristles
1
a
: to rise and stand stiffly erect
quills bristling
b
: to raise the bristles (as in anger)
a snarling, bristling dog
2
: to take on an aggressively defensive attitude (as in response to a slight or criticism)
he bristled at the accusations of corruption
3
a
: to be full of or covered with especially something suggestive of bristles
roofs bristled with chimneys
b
: to be full of something specified
book bristles with detail and irony—
W. J. Broad
W. J. BroadExamples of bristle in a Sentence
Noun
a face covered with bristles
the bristles of a brush
Verb
Electricity makes your hair bristle.
a recent college grad thrilled to be starting a new life in a city bristling with possibilities
Recent Examples on the Web
Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025
Similarly, your brushes’ hair bristles (synthetic or natural) also require special care.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2025
The other candidates bristled at the suggestion that OPRF is not a safe school.
—Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bristle
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Noun
Then apply that paste to the stained area with a soft bristle brush.
—Monika Biegler Eyers, Better Homes & Gardens, 20 Mar. 2025
Similarly, your brushes’ hair bristles (synthetic or natural) also require special care.
—Kiana Murden, Vogue, 18 Mar. 2025
Verb
The record keepers bristled a little bit at the question, noting that for more than a century their organizations have certified all types of records that include distance, altitude, and speed as well as human spaceflight and even team formation records (groups of people skydiving).
—Michael Verdon, Robb Report, 19 Mar. 2025
The other candidates bristled at the suggestion that OPRF is not a safe school.
—Bob Skolnik, Chicago Tribune, 18 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for bristle
Cite this Entry
“Bristle.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bristle. Accessed 26 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bristle
1 of 2 noun
bris·tle
ˈbris-əl
: a short stiff hair or something like a hair
bristled
adjective
-əld
bristly
adjective
-(ə-)lē
bristle
2 of 2 verb
bristled; bristling
-(ə-)liŋ
1
: to rise up and stiffen like bristles
makes your hair bristle
quills bristling in all directions
2
: to show signs of anger
bristled at the insult
3
: to appear as if covered with bristles
a harbor bristling with the masts of ships
bristly
adjective
-(ə-)lē
Medical Definition
bristle
noun
bris·tle
ˈbris-əl
: a short stiff coarse hair or filament
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