bristly

adjective

bris·​tly ˈbris-lē How to pronounce bristly (audio)
ˈbri-sə-
bristlier; bristliest
1
a
: thickly set with bristles
a bristly shrub
b
: consisting of or resembling bristles
a bristly mustache
2
: inclined to or showing aggressiveness or anger
a bristly temperament

Examples of bristly in a Sentence

although pigs look hairless, they're actually bristly creatures
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Step 3: Tidy the Harvest When the garlic is fully cured with papery skins and brittle, brown leaves, brush away any excess soil with your fingers and clip back the bristly roots. Lauren Landers, Better Homes & Gardens, 10 Aug. 2024 The authors dutifully report that each pappus, the bristly head of a seed, contains 100 rod-like filaments on average, each about 7.4 mm long and 16.3 μm thick. Bill Andrews, Discover Magazine, 18 Oct. 2018 Hedgehogs are small mammals, known for their coats, which are covered with bristly spines. Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2021 Like farmers tilling and watering their fields, the yeti crab dutifully tends its crop by waving its bristly arms. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 2 Dec. 2011 See all Example Sentences for bristly 

Word History

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Time Traveler
The first known use of bristly was in the 15th century

Dictionary Entries Near bristly

Cite this Entry

“Bristly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bristly. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.

More from Merriam-Webster on bristly

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!