BRIDLE Synonyms: 51 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

Q: 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

bridle

verb

Definition of bridle

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

Relevance

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

Verb

In her latest book, Harvard historian Jill Lepore argues that Big Tech now controls the United States—and, by extension, the entire planet.

— Nina Verdelli, Vanity Fair, 24 Oct. 2026
He was angered when the team's controlling owner moved the team to Atlanta for the 1966 season.

— ABC News, ABC News, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of control

Verb

An architect’s struggle with Nevada’s state licensing board raises a broader question about how to regulate industry.

— Wendy R. Anderson, Washington Post, 21 Oct. 2026
The group says it’s shaped several must-haves by taking lessons from Washington’s failure to regulate social media.

— Ashley Gold, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of regulate

Verb

General admission floor tickets could not be transferred and could be resold only at face value, a rule meant to curb scalping.

— James LaForge, Fortune, 22 Oct. 2026
Biotech companies like Eli Lilly and Altimmune are testing drugs for their effect at curbing alcohol cravings.

— Elizabeth Cooney, STAT, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of curb

Verb

On the strength of those elections, restrained only marginally by the midterm elections of 1982, Reagan began his second term on top of the world.

— Ron Elving, NPR, 24 Oct. 2026
Security restrained Kruse’s arm behind her back while escorting her through the stands.

— Jackson Thompson OutKick, FOXNews.com, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of restrain

Verb

Shauf quit drinking in 2020, and while The Party contains its fair share of drunken regret, alcohol is a more central subject on the afterparty’s other two outtakes.

— Lily Goldberg, Pitchfork, 21 Oct. 2026
The medical response has focused largely on treating and containing the disease, with little to no attention to the mental health of those affected.

— Constant Same Bagalwa, Los Angeles Times, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of contain

Verb

His critics see a president who failed to tame inflation and keep America out of overseas conflicts, and whose agenda has fueled higher prices as the war with Iran appears to be at a stalemate.

— JOSH BOAK, Arkansas Online, 21 Oct. 2026
The effort is meant to bring new jobs and millions of dollars to the state as the GOP seeks to keep control of both chambers in the midterm elections next month.

— Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of keep

Verb

When a general purpose technology arrives, companies pour money into complementary intangible investments that national accounts do not measure.

— Stephen Messer, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2026
Even some creators being paid to love their estrogen creams are fairly measured when reporting their results, which include less reactivity and more hydration.

— Ashley Abramson, Allure, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of measure

Browse Nearby Words

bridges

bridle

bridled

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Bridle.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bridle. Accessed 28 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of bridle

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on bridle

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes

Synonyms of bridle

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Articles Related to bridle

A List of Most Commonly Confused Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster on bridle

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

grotesque

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes