bristle Synonyms
Another word for bristle
• noun (Context 1)
A short, stiff, coarse hair on an animal's skin or a person's face, or a similar synthetic fiber used to make brushes.
"The artist selected a paintbrush with stiff hog bristles to apply the thick oil paint."
• verb (Context 2)
To react angrily, defensively, or indignantly, typically by drawing oneself up stiffly.
"She tended to bridle at any suggestion that her research methods were outdated."
• verb (Context 3)
To stand stiffly upright like bristles (of hair or fur), or to make hair or fur stand upright in fear or anger.
"The stray dog's fur began to stand on end as the stranger approached the gate."
• verb (Context 4)
To be thickly covered, filled, or abundant with something (usually followed by 'with').
"The final contract bristled with complex legal clauses and conditions."
Opposites of bristle
The opposite of bristle shifts depending on context. Common opposites include: