as in shaggy
covered with or as if with hair
although pigs look hairless, they're actually bristly creatures
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Example Sentences
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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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This romantically rustic wreath weaves shaggy swags of greenery with white tulips and stalks of berries, then ties it all together with a neat black-and-white bow.—
Miles Walls,
Better Homes & Gardens,
19 Apr. 2025
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Hashing things out with his tech wizard brother-in-law Maury (a shaggy Guy Pearce), Karsh wonders if ecological protesters or religious groups or competitors are upset with his global expansion plans, which include a lava field in Iceland.—
Robert Abele,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Genetically identical neurons that form Meissner corpuscles for picking up vibrations in glabrous skin, for example, also form lanceolate endings for detecting hair movement in hairy skin.—
Ariel Bleicher,
Quanta Magazine,
16 Apr. 2025
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Each one-inch bloom has a hairy purple calyx with two red petals, resembling the face and ears of a bat.—
Kim Toscano,
Southern Living,
6 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Active Time: 1 hr Total Time: 2 hrs Servings: 12 Creamy white lasagna is filled with cheesy layers of pasta, sausage and mushrooms, a silky bechamel, and mozzarella.—
Nicole Hopper,
Southern Living,
17 Apr. 2025
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The lightweight texture means no greasy residue—just silky, radiant skin.—
Tira Urquhart,
Essence,
15 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bristly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristly. Accessed 30 Apr. 2025.
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