hackled
With raised hackles
Hackled describes something with hackles—the long, slender feathers on a bird's neck, or the erectile hairs along an animal's back.
Hackled feathers appear in fly-fishing lures.
The word also means combed or dressed, as flax or hemp fibers pulled through a hackle (a comb-like tool).
Figuratively, if someone is hackled, their hackles are raised—they're agitated or defensive.
Standing stiffly outward
- erectVertical in position
- raisedLifted higher up
- stiffenedMade or became rigid
- uprightVertical or morally sound
ruffled · standing · lifted · prickled · elevated · upraised · flared · tense
Mildly vexed
- provokedCaused a reaction
- nettledAnnoyed or provoked
- ruffledDisturbed or trimmed ornamentally
- vexedAnnoyed or much-debated
peeved · irked · galled · aggravated · exasperated · indignant · piqued · tetchy
Bird's complete feather coat
Unable to be still
- nervousUneasy and apprehensive
- anxiousTroubled by uncertainty
- uneasyTroubled, not calm
- tenseStrained or nervous
edgy · jittery · fidgety · flustered · disturbed · perturbed · troubled · overwrought
Threatened with harm
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- imperiledPut at risk
- vulnerableOpen to attack
- corneredUnable to flee
besieged · targeted · at risk · exposed · alarmed · frightened · fearful · apprehensive
bristling
Standing stiffly outward
upright · ruffled · standing · lifted · prickled · elevated · upraised · flared · tense · alert
annoyed
Mildly vexed
vexed · peeved · irked · galled · aggravated · exasperated · indignant · piqued · tetchy · testy
plumage
Bird's complete feather coat
saddle · rooster · cock · streamer · dubbing · barbs · fibers
restless
Unable to be still
tense · edgy · jittery · fidgety · flustered · disturbed · perturbed · troubled · overwrought · unsettled
menaced
Threatened with harm
- endangeredAt risk of extinction
- imperiledPut at risk
- vulnerableOpen to attack
cornered · besieged · targeted · at risk · exposed · alarmed · frightened · fearful · apprehensive · intimidated
guarded
Wary and restrained
watchful · cautious · suspicious · leery · protective · resistant · on guard · braced · ready · prepared
hackledsmooth
Without roughness or difficulty
sleek · flat · slicked · glossy · streamlined
- raise someone's hacklesTrigger defensive hostility
- raising someone's hacklesTriggering defensive anger
- hackles raisedShowing aggression or alarm
- raised hacklesErected neck hairs
- raised someone's hacklesProvoked defensive anger