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View synonyms for

bristle

[bris-uhl]

noun

  1. one of the short, stiff, coarse hairs of certain animals, especially hogs, used extensively in making brushes.

  2. anything resembling these hairs.



verb (used without object)

bristled, bristling 
  1. to stand or rise stiffly, like bristles.

  2. to erect the bristles, as an irritated animal (often followed byup ).

    The hog bristled up.

  3. to become rigid with anger or irritation.

    The man bristled when I asked him to move.

  4. to be thickly set or filled with something suggestive of bristles.

    The plain bristled with bayonets. The project bristled with difficulties.

  5. to be visibly roused or stirred (usually followed byup ).

verb (used with object)

bristled, bristling 
  1. to erect like bristles.

    The rooster bristled his crest.

  2. to furnish with a bristle or bristles.

  3. to make bristly.

bristle

/ ˈɪə /

noun

  1. any short stiff hair of an animal or plant

  2. something resembling these hair

    toothbrush bristle

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

verb

  1. to stand up or cause to stand up like bristles

    the angry cat's fur bristled

  2. to show anger, indignation, etc

    she bristled at the suggestion

  3. (intr) to be thickly covered or set

    the target bristled with arrows

  4. (intr) to be in a state of agitation or movement

    the office was bristling with activity

  5. (tr) to provide with a bristle or bristles

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • bristleless adjective
  • bristlelike adjective
  • nonbristled adjective
  • unbristled adjective
  • ˈٱ adjective
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bristle1

before 1000; Middle English bristel, equivalent to brist ( Old English byrst bristle, cognate with German Borste, Old Norse burst ) + -el diminutive suffix
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Word History and Origins

Origin of bristle1

C13 bristil , brustel , from earlier brust , from Old English byrst ; related to Old Norse burst , Old High German borst
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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

McDonnell has bristled over criticism about his relationship with the U.S.

From

Love, who sued Wilson repeatedly through the years to get songwriting credit for dozens of songs he claimed he helped write, bristled at the suggestion he’d upended his cousin’s masterwork.

From

He also bristled at the second-guessing over whether Biden should have stepped aside earlier, saying that his children and grandchildren don't care about the former president's choice.

From

"It's completely stupid," she bristles, claiming she has challenged them to "dig into her past as much as they like".

From

The sisal plant grows naturally in the east African country and is the best material for bristle boards, lowering operating costs.

From

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Brissotbristlebird