What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bristle
Example
The porcupine's bristles stood up when it felt threatened. [bristles: noun]
Example
She bristled at the rude comment and responded with anger. [bristled: verb]
quill
Example
The peacock proudly displayed its colorful quills. [quills: noun]
Example
In the olden days, people used quills to write with ink. [quills: noun]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Bristle is more commonly used than quill in everyday language. Bristle has a wider range of contexts and can be used to describe various situations involving tension, anger, or physical features. On the other hand, quill is less common and is mainly associated with historical or specialized contexts related to birds and writing instruments.
Whatโs the difference in the tone of formality between bristle and quill?
Both bristle and quill can be used in both formal and informal contexts. However, quill may have a slightly more formal connotation due to its historical association with writing instruments.
