Bristling

B2 16+

Pronunciation: /ˈbrɪsəlɪŋ/

Definitions of bristling

verb to react angrily or defensively

Example Sentences

A1 The cat was bristling with fear.

A2 The dog bristled at the sight of the stranger.

B1 The politician bristled at the tough questions from the reporters.

B2 The manager bristled at the suggestion that his team was underperforming.

C1 The professor bristled at the student's interruption during the lecture.

C2 The CEO bristled at the competitor's attempts to poach his top employees.

adjective showing signs of anger or irritation

Example Sentences

A1 The cat's fur was bristling as it arched its back in fear.

A2 She felt her hair bristling with excitement as she approached the finish line.

B1 The dog's bristling fur indicated that it was ready to defend its territory.

B2 The tension in the room was palpable, with everyone's emotions bristling just below the surface.

C1 His bristling response to the criticism showed just how sensitive he was to any form of feedback.

C2 The political debate was filled with bristling arguments and heated exchanges.

adverb in a bristling manner

Example Sentences

A1 The cat's fur was bristling with anger.

A2 She walked into the room, bristling with confidence.

B1 The teacher entered the classroom, bristling with energy.

B2 The politician's speech left the audience bristling with anticipation.

C1 The chef's culinary skills had the critics bristling with excitement.

C2 The author's new book had readers bristling with curiosity.

Examples of bristling in a Sentence

formal The soldier stood at attention, his bristling demeanor showing his readiness for battle.

informal She walked into the party with a bristling attitude, ready to confront anyone who crossed her.

slang The coach was bristling with anger after the referee made a bad call.

figurative The tension in the room was palpable, with emotions bristling beneath the surface.

Grammatical Forms of bristling

past tense

bristled

plural

bristling

comparative

more bristling

superlative

most bristling

present tense

bristle

future tense

will bristle

perfect tense

have bristled

continuous tense

is bristling

singular

bristling

positive degree

bristling

infinitive

to bristle

gerund

bristling

participle

bristled

Origin and Evolution of bristling

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Old English
Story behind the word: The word 'bristling' originated from the Old English word 'byrst', which meant to stand up stiffly or to bristle. It is related to the Old High German word 'bürsten' meaning to bristle or to brush.
Evolution of the word: Over time, the word 'bristling' has evolved to not only describe hair or fur standing upright in anger or fear, but also to describe a situation or atmosphere that is tense or full of hostility.