Synonyms for

Bristle

Verb / ˈbrɪsʌl / Another word for bristle — explore alternatives below. For syllable breakdowns and pronunciation, see this word on Syllablesworld.

Definition

to stand stiffly on end, like bristles; to show anger or irritation

Synonyms & similar words

Example sentences

  1. The hair on the cat's back bristled when it saw a mouse.
  2. The porcupine bristled its quills to protect itself from predators.
  3. The boss bristled when he heard the news about the project's delay.
  4. I could see my friend's face bristle with anger when I told him the bad news.
  5. The toddler's hair bristled with static electricity after playing with balloons.

Quotes

  • My father's mustache was a very thick and proud one, and I used to watch it with awe, wondering when I would be able to grow one like it. I never could, of course, but I did at least inherit his tendency to bristle when people said things to me that I didn't like.
  • It is a mistake to think that moving fast is the same as actually going somewhere.
  • You can't make people happy by law. If you said to a bunch of average people two hundred years ago 'Would you be happy in a world where medical care is widely available, houses are clean, the world's music and sights and foods can be brought into your home at small cost, travelling even 100 miles is easy, childbirth is generally not fatal to mother or child, you don't have to die of dental abcesses and you don't have to do the back-breaking work of keeping a farm working' they'd think you were talking about the New Jerusalem and say 'yes'.

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