bridle
1 of 2noun
bri·dle ˈbrī-dᵊl 
1
: the headgear with which a horse is governed and which carries a bit (see bit entry 1 sense 2a) and reins
2
: a length of line or cable attached to two parts of something (such as a ship) to spread the force of a pull
especially : rigging on a kite for attaching line
3
: curb, restraint
set a bridle on his power
bridle
2 of 2verb
bridled; bridling ˈbrīd-liŋ
ˈbrī-dᵊl-iŋ
transitive verb
1
: to put a harness with which a horse is governed on the head of : to put a bridle (see bridle entry 1 sense 1) on
bridle a horse
2
: to restrain, check, or control with or as if with a bridle
bridle your tongue
was forced to bridle her anger
intransitive verb
: to show hostility or resentment (as to an affront to one's pride or dignity) especially by drawing back the head and chin
military commanders who had bridled against … interference 
Time
Time
Synonyms
Verb
- check
- constrain
- contain
- control
- curb
- govern
- hold
- inhibit
- keep
- measure
- pull in
- regulate
- rein (in)
- restrain
- rule
- tame
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb try to bridle your criticism next time so that it is helpful and not hurtful
Recent Examples on the Web Wes Siler, Outside Online, 31 May 2021 Based on an actual torture device, the bridle is outfitted with bells that would have alerted slaveholders to any movement. Shantay Robinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2022 There are decorative bronze pendants from a bridle used by a cavalry officer, and a delicate doll’s leg, made out of bone, that was once played with by a child. Nick Squires, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2021 Set the Tone, a 2-year-old filly, lost her rider during training, the bridle came loose and the saddle slipped underneath her. Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2021 The artifact, which may have been part of a bridle or harness, appeared as though it might have been dropped in the ice the just day before – our guides even recognized the technique of traditional manufacture. William Taylor, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2021 The prongs of faith and duty: two sides of a bridle. Emily Bernard, The New Yorker, 25 June 2020 Activities: Golf, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, plus 70 miles of bridle trails and a horse camp. Susan Glaser, cleveland, 7 June 2020 Mount Airy Forest Mount Airy Forest can be accessed from Mount Airy and Westwood and the park's 1,459 acres include miles of hiking trails, bridle trails. Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, 24 Apr. 2020 K.c. Colwell, Car and Driver, 4 Oct. 2021 Left to its own devices, the virus could hypothetically bridle itself. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 June 2021 Right-wing politicians who bridle at lockdown restrictions are as angry as the left-wing climate protesters who regularly clog Trafalgar Square in London as part of the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2021 Wild horses might drag the people of China away from their tyrannical government, but rather than shoot the horses in true Soviet style, the CCP has decided to break and bridle them instead. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 1 Oct. 2020 For weeks, neither did many Italians, who alternately obeyed and bridled at the restrictions imposed on them. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2020 Trump has bridled at findings that Russia mounted a massive effort to attack his 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, and by doing so boost his candidacy. Alan Levin, Bloomberg.com, 12 Jan. 2020 Companies with a lot of independent contractors on their books have bridled, in some cases preposterously. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2019 The smooth, adult bent of Nashville continued into the '60s, sparking another rebellion among a loose crew of musicians who bridled at the restrictions imposed on them. Randy Lewis, chicagotribune.com, 9 Sep. 2019 See More
Noun
For most passenger cars, like Subarus, this means ordering an additional tow eyelet and a static strap so that a bridle can be created between the two eyelets on the front of your car. Wes Siler, Outside Online, 31 May 2021 Based on an actual torture device, the bridle is outfitted with bells that would have alerted slaveholders to any movement. Shantay Robinson, Smithsonian Magazine, 11 Apr. 2022 There are decorative bronze pendants from a bridle used by a cavalry officer, and a delicate doll’s leg, made out of bone, that was once played with by a child. Nick Squires, The Christian Science Monitor, 29 Oct. 2021 Set the Tone, a 2-year-old filly, lost her rider during training, the bridle came loose and the saddle slipped underneath her. Los Angeles Times, 4 Nov. 2021 The artifact, which may have been part of a bridle or harness, appeared as though it might have been dropped in the ice the just day before – our guides even recognized the technique of traditional manufacture. William Taylor, The Conversation, 11 Aug. 2021 The prongs of faith and duty: two sides of a bridle. Emily Bernard, The New Yorker, 25 June 2020 Activities: Golf, fishing, swimming, boating, hiking, plus 70 miles of bridle trails and a horse camp. Susan Glaser, cleveland, 7 June 2020 Mount Airy Forest Mount Airy Forest can be accessed from Mount Airy and Westwood and the park's 1,459 acres include miles of hiking trails, bridle trails. Sarah Brookbank, Cincinnati.com, 24 Apr. 2020 Verb
Adaptive dampers and air springs bridle the mass with authoritative control. K.c. Colwell, Car and Driver, 4 Oct. 2021 Left to its own devices, the virus could hypothetically bridle itself. Katherine J. Wu, The Atlantic, 28 June 2021 Right-wing politicians who bridle at lockdown restrictions are as angry as the left-wing climate protesters who regularly clog Trafalgar Square in London as part of the Extinction Rebellion demonstrations. New York Times, 23 Mar. 2021 Wild horses might drag the people of China away from their tyrannical government, but rather than shoot the horses in true Soviet style, the CCP has decided to break and bridle them instead. Cameron Hilditch, National Review, 1 Oct. 2020 For weeks, neither did many Italians, who alternately obeyed and bridled at the restrictions imposed on them. Jason Horowitz, New York Times, 11 Mar. 2020 Trump has bridled at findings that Russia mounted a massive effort to attack his 2016 Democratic opponent, Hillary Clinton, and by doing so boost his candidacy. Alan Levin, Bloomberg.com, 12 Jan. 2020 Companies with a lot of independent contractors on their books have bridled, in some cases preposterously. Nathan Heller, The New Yorker, 12 Sep. 2019 The smooth, adult bent of Nashville continued into the '60s, sparking another rebellion among a loose crew of musicians who bridled at the restrictions imposed on them. Randy Lewis, chicagotribune.com, 9 Sep. 2019 See More Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English bridel, from Old English brīdel; akin to Old English bregdan to move quickly — more at braid
Verb
Middle English bridlen, going back to Old English brīdlian, verbal derivative of brīdel bridle entry 1
First Known Use
Noun
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Phrases Containing bridle
Kids Definition
bridle 1 of 2
noun
bri·dle ˈbrī-dᵊl
: a device for controlling a horse made up of a set of straps enclosing the head, a bit, and a pair of reins
bridle
2 of 2verb
bridled; bridling
ˈbrīd-liŋ,
ˈbrī-dᵊl-iŋ
1
: to put a bridle on
bridle a horse
2
: restrain sense 2
He tried to bridle his anger.
3
: to hold the head high and draw in the chin as an expression of resentment
Medical Definition
bridle
noun
bri·dle ˈbrīd-ᵊl
: frenulum
bridle
verb
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
- control
- curb
- regulate
- restrain
- keep
- tame
- contain
- measure
- stifle
- rule
- govern
- constrain
- suppress
- check
- hold
- inhibit
- rein (in)
- pull in
- stop
- muzzle
- swallow
- pocket
- squelch
- interrupt
- mince
- hold back
- muffle
- strangle
- silence
- smother
- hinder
- repress
- arrest
- block
- choke (back)
- sink
- impede
- handcuff
- hamper
- gag
- obstruct
- bottle (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- loosen
- lose
- loose
- liberate
- express
- take out
- vent
- air
- unleash
Synonym Chooser
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
The meanings of check and bridle largely overlap; however, check implies restraining or impeding a progress, activity, or impetus.
trying to check government spending
Although the words curb and bridle have much in common, curb suggests an abrupt or drastic checking.
learn to curb your appetite
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