bristly.

1. Having short stiff hairs or projecting fibers that feel prickly.

2. Quick to show irritation or resistance when approached or challenged.

Use it for

Words that belong together

• bristly chin
• bristly brush

On the page

His bristly chin scraped her forehead as he bent to listen.

A bristly growth covered the creature's narrow legs.

Usage notes

Primary category: sensory / description. Forms: Comparative more bristly; superlative most bristly where gradation is meaningful. Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings.