bristle

Short coarse strand

Bristle is a short, stiff hair or fiber—the kind found on a pig's back, a toothbrush, or a man's unshaven chin.

To bristle is to raise these hairs, as an animal does when threatened, which extends to any display of defensiveness or hostility: She bristled at the suggestion that she'd been careless.

Something bristling with objects has many of them projecting outward: a rooftop bristling with antennas.

reaction

hackles

Erectile neck feathers

tenseStrained or nervous
stiffenBecome less pliable
recoilBackward force from discharge

flinch · prickle · ruffle · flare · defensive · agitated · affronted · indignant · provoked · offended

irritation

annoyance

State of being bothered

resentmentPersistent bitter displeasure
piqueWounded pride, resentment
displeasureMild anger or disapproval

vexation · exasperation · indignation · umbrage · offense · chafe · irk · rankle · nettle · rile

texture

prickly

Spiny or irritable

spikyHaving sharp projections
coarseRough in texture
roughUneven in surface

scratchy · stubbly · thorny · barbed · sharp · stiff · poky · abrasive · spiny

brush

paintbrush

Bristled tool for applying pigment

toothbrushBristled oral cleaning implement
broomBristled cleaning stick
scrubClean by rubbing hard

sweeping · handle · cleaning · hairbrush · nailbrush · bottlebrush · shaving · polish · dustpan · strokes

bristle

hackles

annoyance

prickly

paintbrush

bristle

Opposites

Phrases

Categories

Family