bristle

[bris-uhl] / ˈbrɪs əl /

NOUN

short, prickly hair

Synonyms

STRONG

barb feeler fiber point prickle quill spine stubble thorn vibrissa whisker

VERB

become upset, excited

Synonyms

STRONGEST

bridle fume seethe

STRONG

boil flare rage rise ruffle spit swell

WEAK

be angry be infuriated be maddened blow up boil over flare up get one's dander up see red stand on end

Antonyms

STRONGEST

be happy

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

And if interviewers bristle at questions or dodge them, that could be a red flag.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 3, 2026

Many residents are thrilled by the promising tool, but others bristle at the idea of manipulating nature.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 22, 2026

"But no, the war is still ongoing," said the strong-armed baker, sporting a short bristle of beard.

From Barron's • Feb. 21, 2026

It was perhaps inevitable that judges would bristle at a government spokeswoman deriding them as hacks.

From Slate • Feb. 18, 2026

He would bristle when I tried to urge him that the proposed book was his life.

From "The Autobiography of Malcolm X" by Alex Malcolm X;Hailey