What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
bristled
Example
The cat bristled its fur when it saw the dog approaching. [bristled: verb]
Example
She bristled at the criticism and defended her work. [bristled: past tense]
stiffen
Example
His body stiffened with fear as he heard a loud noise. [stiffened: past tense]
Example
The chef added more flour to the dough to help it stiffen. [stiffen: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Stiffen is more commonly used than bristled in everyday language. Stiffen is versatile and covers a wider range of contexts, while bristled is less common and more specific to describing animal or human emotional responses.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between bristled and stiffen?
While bristled is typically associated with a more informal tone, stiffen can be used in both formal and informal contexts, allowing for more flexibility in communication.
