Rebel commanders also bristle at what they say is the Western media’s uncritical reporting of the YPG, much of it focused on the Kurdish group’s embrace of secularism and the presence of young women fighters in its ranks.
Source: tatoeba (11035848)
Bristle
/ˈbɹɪsəl/
Synonyms for "bristle" (201 found)
Ranked by relevance and common usage.
Closest matches (41)
Strong matches (60)
Related words (100)
irritatejump upmanemiffmolestnagneedlenettlenudzhpeach fuzzpeevepeltpersecutepesterpickpick onpilepine needlepiqueplague
Show 68 more words
pluck the beardpotherprickprickleprovokepubescencepubic hairquillragerampranklereach boiling pointrearrear upriderileriserise uproilrub the wrong wayrufflerumplesee redseetheset on edgeset upsetasetulasetuleshagside whiskerssit bolt uprightsit upspiculespiculumspikespikeletspinestand upstickstick upstickerstingstir the bloodstir upstrigastubbleswarmteaseteemthistlethorntormenttry the patiencetufttweak the noseupheaveuprearuprisevandykevexwhiskerwhiskerswoolwork upworrywrinkleyucca
Noun(8 words)
Choosing the right synonym
- Closest matches in this entry: abound, acuminate, aggravate, anger, annoy.
- Sentence evidence is available for bristle, so synonym choice can be checked against real usage rather than a flat word list.
- Ranking signals come from wordnet, moby, derived_reverse, opengloss, and related lexical sources.
Synonym selection checklist
- Match the part of speech before comparing meanings.
- Check whether the synonym changes intensity, formality, or emotional tone.
- Read the replacement inside the full sentence, not just beside "bristle".
- Prefer the clearest word over the most unusual word when writing for speed or comprehension.
When not to replace "bristle"
Keep "bristle" when the sentence already sounds natural, when a synonym would add unintended emphasis, or when readers need the most familiar wording. A synonym should clarify or sharpen the message, not simply make the sentence look more varied.
If two options seem close, choose the one that best matches the audience and purpose of the sentence.
Replacement workflow
1. Preserve meaning
Choose a synonym only if it keeps the core idea of "bristle" intact in the sentence you are editing.
2. Tune tone
Check whether the replacement sounds more formal, casual, emotional, technical, or forceful than the original word.
3. Re-read context
Read the full sentence after the swap. Keep the synonym only when the sentence becomes clearer or more precise.
Review note: Synonym lists are ranked with lexical data and reviewed for practical writing value. Use the comparison notes, sentence evidence, and source labels together; a high-ranking synonym can still be wrong when the audience, register, or grammar changes.
Final fit check
After choosing a replacement for "bristle", read the sentence once for meaning and once for rhythm. The best synonym should feel natural in the full sentence, not only accurate in a word list.
If the synonym makes the sentence slower, vaguer, or more dramatic than intended, keep "bristle" or choose a simpler alternative from the closest-match group.
Related word relations
OpenGloss and ConceptNet supply richer edges like generalizations, collocations, and derivations.
More general
16 entriesMore specific
13 entriesCollocations
11 entriesbristle at criticismbristle with angerbristle with fearbristled with reportersbristling with camerasbrush bristlefacial bristlenatural bristlesingle bristlestiff bristlesynthetic bristle
Inflections
3 entriesDerivations
3 entriesTranslations
10 translations across 4 languages.
Dutch
2 entries- recht overeind staan verb (to be on one's guard)
- stekelig reageren verb (to be on one's guard)
Polish
2 entries- jeżyć się verb (to be on one's guard)
- zjeżyć się verb (to be on one's guard)
Spanish
1 entries- ponerse a la defensiva verb (to be on one's guard)
Swedish
4 entries- lystra verb (to be on one's guard)
- resa verb (to be on one's guard)
- resa ragg verb (to be on one's guard)
- skjuta rygg verb (to be on one's guard)
Sample sentences
27 total sentences available.
Many New Yorkers bristle at the notion that the site where the Twin Towers once stood has become a major tourist attraction.
Source: tatoeba (11035877)
Soft bristle paintbrushes are best for watercolour painting.
Source: tatoeba (13560158)
the bristles of a pig
Source: wiktionary
Showing 4 of 27 available sentences.
Common questions
What are the closest synonyms for "bristle"?
Closest matches include abound, acuminate, aggravate, anger, annoy.
How should I check whether a synonym fits "bristle"?
Compare the replacement against real sentence context. This entry includes sample sentences so you can check tone, grammar, and meaning before swapping words.