bristly
Like stiff whiskers
Bristly describes something covered with stiff, rough hairs or fibers: a bristly beard, a bristly cactus.
The word often suggests unpleasant texture—something scratchy to the touch.
Figuratively, a bristly person is prickly or quick to take offense: He gets bristly whenever anyone mentions his ex.
Uneven in surface
- coarseRough in texture
- scratchyRough and irritating
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- abrasiveRough enough to erode
wiry · stubbly · raspy · harsh · spiky · stiff · poky · scrubby
Having sharp protrusions
- pricklySpiny or irritable
- spikyHaving sharp projections
- barbedHaving sharp projections
- pointedTapering to a tip
quilled · spiny · needle-like · sharp · thistle · bur · hedgehog · porcupine
Having facial hair
- stubblyHaving short rough growth
- whiskeredHaving facial bristles
- unshavenHaving facial bristles
- hirsuteHaving much body covering
hairy · fuzzy · mustachioed · grizzled · scruffy · unkempt · bushy
Protective or easily threatened
- guardedWary and restrained
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
- pricklySpiny or irritable
confrontational · unfriendly · standoffish · unapproachable · aggressive · abrasive · churlish · surly
rough
Uneven in surface
abrasive · wiry · stubbly · raspy · harsh · spiky · stiff · poky · scrubby · scruffy
thorny
Having sharp protrusions
pointed · quilled · spiny · needle-like · sharp · thistle · bur · hedgehog · porcupine · cactus
bearded
Having facial hair
hirsute · hairy · fuzzy · mustachioed · grizzled · scruffy · unkempt · bushy
defensive
Protective or easily threatened
- guardedWary and restrained
- combativeInclined toward conflict
- antagonisticActively opposed or hostile
prickly · confrontational · unfriendly · standoffish · unapproachable · aggressive · abrasive · churlish · surly · cold
prickly
Spiny or irritable
snappish · irascible · cantankerous · tetchy · grouchy · peevish · cranky · short-tempered · crabby · curmudgeonly
wiry
Thin and muscular
firm · springy · resilient · taut · stubborn · unyielding · tough · kinky · unruly
- soft bristlesPliable brush strands
- toothbrush bristlesCleaning filaments on dental tool
- bristle brushTool with stiff fibers
- plastic bristlesManufactured flexible fibers
- wire bristlesRigid metal cleaning strands
- boar bristlesCoarse hairs from wild swine
bristle, bristles, bristling, bristled, bristliness, bristliest, bristlier