as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
although pigs look hairless, they're actually bristly creatures
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Recent Examples of bristly
Called Utah arrays, they are made of hard silicon and look a bit like the bristly part of a hairbrush.
—
WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022
Thirteen Lives reminds me of Ron Howard's Apollo 13 for its bristly character moments, people caught in extremis.
—Joshua Rothkopf, EW.com, 6 Aug. 2022
Sandstrom’s most recent Squonk is a hairy, wart-covered monster with bristly, unkempt fur, fangs, and ears that curve down submissively.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 19 Apr. 2020
Often, as a bonus, a librarian or teacher will lean in to give Daisy a kiss on her bristly snout, to general glee from the young audience.
—Nora McGreevy, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for bristly
WIRED, 19 Aug. 2022
Thirteen Lives reminds me of Ron Howard's Apollo 13 for its bristly character moments, people caught in extremis.
—Joshua Rothkopf, EW.com, 6 Aug. 2022
Sandstrom’s most recent Squonk is a hairy, wart-covered monster with bristly, unkempt fur, fangs, and ears that curve down submissively.
—Steven Litt, cleveland, 19 Apr. 2020
Often, as a bonus, a librarian or teacher will lean in to give Daisy a kiss on her bristly snout, to general glee from the young audience.
—Nora McGreevy, BostonGlobe.com, 22 Aug. 2019
See All Example Sentences for bristly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bristly
Adjective
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The goldendoodle named Bruno is crossbreed of a golden retriever and a poodle, and is known to have unique fur—loose curls and sometimes shaggy.—
Liz O'Connell,
MSNBC Newsweek,
2 June 2025
-
The bison’s large, hump-like shoulder, shaggy fur, and thick mane distinguish it from the smoother-coated buffalo.—
Scott Travers,
Forbes.com,
25 May 2025
Adjective
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Several things may cause dark black spots on the tongue, including a benign condition called hairy tongue, some medications, and some health conditions.—
Wendy Wisner,
Health,
8 June 2025
-
Enjoy some hairy onboard footage as this alien spaceship of a sailboat records the second-fastest speed in history.—
New Atlas,
New Atlas,
4 June 2025
Adjective
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Victoria Beckham’s kajal eyeliner—whether in a bronze, cobalt, or bordeaux hues—plush a wash of Tom Ford’s silky eyeshadow quad will add a bit of flair to les yeux.—
Kiana Murden,
Vogue,
16 June 2025
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Made from 100 percent Peruvian pima cotton, the tank has a light, silky texture that feels like a cool hug on a hot day.—
Kristin Braswell,
Travel + Leisure,
12 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bristly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristly. Accessed 19 Jun. 2025.
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