Meaning & use
bristly
Covered with short, stiff hairs; also describing a person who reacts with irritation or defensiveness.
See it in a sentence
The dog's bristly fur stood up along its back when it sensed danger.
He gave a bristly response when a reporter questioned his decision.
A note on using this word
Bristly can describe a literal rough texture or, figuratively, a short-tempered or touchy manner.
Words with a similar meaning
pricklyspiky
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
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