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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Stir in buttermilk, sour cream, and chives until a shaggy dough forms.—
Alana Al-Hatlani,
Southern Living,
5 May 2025
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The cut takes inspiration from shaggy '70s and ’90s haircuts, but celebrities like Sydney Sweeney and Kaia Gerber have brought the style back into the spotlight.—
Liv Holland,
Allure,
30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Atlanta Falcons quarterback Kirk Cousins poked fun at Travis Kelce’s hairy back as a photo of the Kansas City Chiefs star went viral across social media last week.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
25 May 2025
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The visual of Molly’s head under a blanket and Guy’s two hairy legs dangling over the side of the bed is terrifically funny.—
Erin Qualey,
Vulture,
7 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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In the final scene of Sirens, Simone stands on the grounds of the mansion, gazing out at the sunset in a silky blue dress.—
Monica Mercuri,
Forbes.com,
23 May 2025
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Try the trend with this silky animal print blouse, which has a V-neckline and long sleeves with elasticized cuffs.—
Jamie Allison Sanders,
People.com,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bristly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bristly. Accessed 6 Jun. 2025.
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