hackles
Britishplural noun
-
the hairs on the back of the neck and the back of a dog, cat, etc, which rise when the animal is angry or afraid
-
anger or resentment (esp in the phrases get one's hackles up, make one's hackles rise )
Explanation
If that mean-looking doggie has his back arched, teeth bared and the hairs on the back of his neck are standing up straight, walk away slowly. You've raised his hackles, or instilled a feeling of anger. In the technical sense, hackles are the hairs or feathers that grow right at the back of an animal's neck. You know, the things that spike up on a scared cat or angry rooster. But in the human world, raising someone's hackles means you've made them boiling mad or super annoyed. For example, spitting spit balls while the teacher isn't looking is sure to raise her hackles. And land you in detention.
Vocabulary lists containing hackles
Their Eyes Were Watching God
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
The Grapes of Wrath
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Vocabulary Video Contest (2013) - List 1
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
When you’ve been friends for a long time, inevitably you’ve seen their hackles rise in certain situations.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026
Such a move would raise hackles in Turkey, which has fought a decades-long bloody conflict with the Kurdish militant group PKK, which it is now seeking to end.
From Barron's • Mar. 7, 2026
Brennan began to ask if Ross was back on the street and working in Minneapolis when Noem got her hackles up.
From Salon • Jan. 18, 2026
Human rights groups and a smattering of legal experts have raised their hackles too.
From BBC • Dec. 6, 2025
It growled low and long in the back of its throat, and its hackles rose.
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
