Hackles
7 lettersnouncommonUpdated June 2026
Definition
The long feathers or hairs on the back of an animal's neck that stand erect when it is agitated, also used figuratively for a feeling of anger or defensiveness.
“His dismissive remark raised the hackles of everyone sitting around the table.”
Pronunciation
Syllables
hack·les
Related Words
Word Game Tips
Wordle
Contains K which is less common in Wordle, the -ACKLES pattern narrows choices down quickly
Scrabble
Contains K worth 5 points, the -LES ending is a useful hook pattern in competitive Scrabble
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Words one letter different
Change a single letter of “hackles” to make these 7-letter words — useful for Wordle and crossword clues.
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