bridle

verb

Definition of bridlenext
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

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb bridle contrast with its synonyms?

Some common synonyms of bridle are check, curb, and restrain. While all these words mean "to hold back from or control in doing something," bridle implies keeping under control by subduing or holding in.

bridle an impulse to throw the book down

Where would check be a reasonable alternative to bridle?

The meanings of check and bridle largely overlap; however, check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.

trying to check government spending

When could curb be used to replace bridle?

Although the words curb and bridle have much in common, curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.

learn to curb your appetite

When would restrain be a good substitute for bridle?

The words restrain and bridle are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, restrain suggests holding back by force or persuasion from acting or from going to extremes.

restrained themselves from laughing

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bridle Gilliam sometimes bridled at the number of voices in the room. — Jack Lang, New York Times, 3 June 2026 For long stretches, she was denied access to books and bridled against the monotony and regulation of institutional life. — Margaret Talbot, New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2026 That gave it the ability to raise its own funds, and freedom from the narrow interests of lawmakers, who would bridle at any attempts to move jobs out of their districts. — Danielle Chemtob, Forbes.com, 26 June 2025 Weaker firms may bridle at the costs of compliance; some will go out of business. — James K. Galbraith, Foreign Affairs, 14 Jan. 2019 See All Example Sentences for bridle
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bridle
  1. control
  2. regulate
  3. curb
  4. restrain
  5. contain
  6. keep
  7. tame
  8. measure
Verb
  • The question confronting Israel and its international partners is not simply whether money should flow into Gaza, but also who controls it—and whether the next arrangement will avoid the failures of the last.
    — Eric Cortellessa, Time, 18 Oct. 2026
  • Virginia did a good job controlling SMU for long stretches, but a few big plays negated all that.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Oct. 2026
Definition of control
Verb
  • These tiny architects of the deep sea actively regulate microbial populations.
    — Mrigakshi Dixit, Interesting Engineering, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Leaning into many voters’ skepticism of artificial intelligence and data centers, Biss has also put forward a multipart plan to regulate the industry.
    — Olivia Olander, Chicago Tribune, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of regulate
Verb
  • Washington has pressed Zelenskyy to curb attacks on energy facilities, linking them to the rising price of US fuel in the run-up to midterm elections, where Republicans are expected to fare poorly.
    — Prashant Rao, semafor.com, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is sending one of its scientists to Pennsylvania to help curb the state’s growing measles outbreak, a CDC spokesperson said Thursday.
    — Erika Edwards, NBC news, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of curb
Verb
  • According to the report, one of the nightclub's owners attempted to physically restrain Lindo and pleaded with him to drop the weapon, describing Lindo as acting focused on his target.
    — Ana Maria Soler, CBS News, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Corrections officials said the officers forced Olivas back into his cell and restrained him.
    — Corey Schmidt, Sacbee.com, 15 Oct. 2026
Definition of restrain
Verb
  • This post contains spoilers for The Diplomat Season 4, now streaming on Netflix.
    — Peter White, Deadline, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The researchers started by making a single, long protein that contained the protease, the sequence it was designed to target, and a fluorescent protein.
    — ArsTechnica, ArsTechnica, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of contain
Verb
  • Investors are keeping a close eye on the outlook of interest rates, after New York Federal Reserve President John Williams' recent comments put him at odds with the broader market and some other central bank members.
    — Justina Lee, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
  • Tajdar Amrohi says that by the time the film was ready for release, his father didn’t have a penny to keep for himself and was deep in debt.
    — Naman Ramachandran, Variety, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of keep
Verb
  • Trump has sought to tame inflation ahead of the congressional midterms in November, when his Republican Party is at risk of losing both houses.
    — Mike Sheen, CNBC, 12 Oct. 2026
  • Investors are closely watching the government's next moves in a highly indebted country where street anger has often been tamed with more state spending.
    — Makini Brice, Arkansas Online, 10 Oct. 2026
Definition of tame
Verb
  • Engagement is often seen as a metric about sentiment that can be measured and tracked, but is treated as something employees bring—or fail to bring—to their jobs.
    — Amanda Gerut, Fortune, 16 Oct. 2026
  • Testing sensors on canisters During the INL demonstration, researchers installed optical fibers outside a mock nuclear fuel canister and tested several arrangements to measure acoustic vibrations.
    — Neetika Walter, Interesting Engineering, 16 Oct. 2026
Definition of measure

Browse Nearby Words

bridges
bridle
bridled
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bridle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bridle. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on bridle

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about bridle

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