as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
although pigs look hairless, they're actually bristly creatures
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of bristly
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
Sandstrom’s most recent Squonk is a hairy, wart-covered monster with bristly, unkempt fur, fangs, and ears that curve down submissively.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 19 Apr. 2020
Often, as a bonus, a librarian or teacher will lean in to give Daisy a kiss on her bristly snout, to general glee from the young audience.
—Nora McGreevy, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2019
See all Example Sentences for bristly 
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
Sandstrom’s most recent Squonk is a hairy, wart-covered monster with bristly, unkempt fur, fangs, and ears that curve down submissively.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 19 Apr. 2020
Often, as a bonus, a librarian or teacher will lean in to give Daisy a kiss on her bristly snout, to general glee from the young audience.
—Nora McGreevy, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2019
See all Example Sentences for bristly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristly
Adjective
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The cropped black faux leather jacket has a shaggy, biscotti brown trim and sleeves.—
Anna Cafolla,
Vogue,
9 Feb. 2025
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The London Orbital Motorway, or the M25, is a vast ring road that runs in a shaggy circle around the outer edges of the capital.—
Anna Russell,
The New Yorker,
7 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Key Ingredients: Basil leaf hairy root blend, sunflower oil, baobab oil Type: Pre-wash oil Best For: Dry scalp, product build-up, all hair textures Size: 3 oz.—
Conçetta Ciarlo,
Vogue,
1 Feb. 2025
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However, plants with hairy leaves or plants in soilless mixes may do better by being watered from the bottom.—
Mary Marlowe Leverette,
Southern Living,
24 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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After seeing animal print interiors in clubs across the city, Rowland ventured into that territory with her clothing, and in true London fashion, the show opened with a silky trench coat.—
Alyssa Goldberg,
USA TODAY,
15 Feb. 2025
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The one saving grace for the board is the accompanying wrist rest, which is silky smooth and connects magnetically to Apex Pro TKL.—
Gieson Cacho,
The Mercury News,
14 Feb. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bristly
Cite this Entry
“Bristly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristly. Accessed 21 Feb. 2025.
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