as in to control
to keep from exceeding a desirable degree or level (as of expression)
try to bridle your criticism next time so that it is helpful and not hurtful
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Recent Examples of bridle
Though there have been just 15 ballot initiatives that became law in Idaho in more than 112 years, the state GOP has increasingly bridled at successful signature drives, which have led to Medicaid expansion and higher education funding.
—
Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2025
On the ground, soldiers bridled at having to fight an impossible, unpopular war, and turmoil spread through the ranks.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Some diplomats bridle at the very idea of haggling with the Taliban, saying that the rights of women and girls are nonnegotiable.
—Delaney Simon, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2025
Tchaikovsky’s symphonic ambitions bridle against their keyboard constraints in his early C-sharp sonata; Trifonov tapped both fluidity and clarity out of the bloat.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bridle
Ian Max Stevenson, Idaho Statesman, 7 Feb. 2025
On the ground, soldiers bridled at having to fight an impossible, unpopular war, and turmoil spread through the ranks.
—Dexter Filkins, The New Yorker, 3 Feb. 2025
Some diplomats bridle at the very idea of haggling with the Taliban, saying that the rights of women and girls are nonnegotiable.
—Delaney Simon, Foreign Affairs, 2 Jan. 2025
Tchaikovsky’s symphonic ambitions bridle against their keyboard constraints in his early C-sharp sonata; Trifonov tapped both fluidity and clarity out of the bloat.
—Hannah Edgar, Chicago Tribune, 20 Nov. 2024
See All Example Sentences for bridle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bridle
Verb
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With McDavid on the ice, the Oilers are controlling 69 percent of chances at even strength.—
James Mirtle,
New York Times,
29 Apr. 2025
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But increasing costs is not a sustainable solution, and, therefore, insurers and consumers (who are often at odds) must work together to control spending without compromising outcomes.—
Mehb Khoja,
Forbes.com,
29 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Its double-sided design keeps your body temperature regulated all night long, with one side made of cool gel memory and the other of breathable bamboo viscose.—
Toni Sutton,
People.com,
27 Apr. 2025
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The panelists agreed that a focused, narrow bill regulating stablecoins could help cement the U.S. dollar’s dominance in a digital future.—
Nik Popli,
Time,
26 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The tool, which is similar to one used by Elon Musk's X, replaced the company’s partnerships with news organizations and fact-checking groups as its primary mechanism for curbing the viral spread of false information.—
Katie Paul and Echo Wang,
USA Today,
23 Apr. 2025
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On Monday, the Chinese government warned other countries against curbing trade with China to win a reprieve from U.S. tariffs, promising to retaliate against countries that did so.—
River Akira Davis,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2025
Verb
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Rosemary restrained herself from scratching at her wig.—
Susannah Cahalan,
Rolling Stone,
17 Apr. 2025
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Education Trump says Education Department will no longer oversee student loans, 'special needs' Over 100,000 U.S. public school students were secluded or restrained during the 2017-2018 school year, according to federal data.—
Dylan Peers McCoy,
NPR,
16 Apr. 2025
Verb
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After the fire is fully contained, the next step is to control it.—
CA WILDFIRE BOT,
Sacbee.com,
21 Apr. 2025
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Fires were contained, and no casualties were reported.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
20 Apr. 2025
Verb
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The aviation industry expects the exemption to help companies keep costs down during a sharp pullback in travel spending by consumers worried about slower economic growth and higher inflation.—
Rajesh Kumar Singh,
USA Today,
29 Apr. 2025
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The Lakers failed to keep the T’Wolves at bay in the fourth quarter despite having a lead.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
28 Apr. 2025
Verb
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This wasn't merely following fashion but embracing a philosophical shift championed by designers like Capability Brown—from nature tamed to nature framed.—
Paul Jebara,
Forbes.com,
16 Apr. 2025
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In a pair of preprint studies posted in March 2025 to bioRxiv, European researchers recently revisited this question — and introduced a gruesome theory: maybe cats were first tamed not to be pets, but to be sacrificed.—
Jenny Lehmann,
Discover Magazine,
14 Apr. 2025
Verb
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But perhaps Grindle’s most lasting contribution won’t be measured in towers raised or contracts won.—
Jason Phillips,
USA Today,
22 Apr. 2025
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From tracking heart rate and sleep patterns to measuring blood oxygen levels, smartwatches are helping people stay more in tune with their health than ever before.—
Kurt Knutsson, CyberGuy Report,
FOXNews.com,
21 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bridle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bridle. Accessed 3 May. 2025.
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