bristly

very irritable

• “bristly exchanges between the White House and the press”
• “he became prickly and spiteful”
• “witty and waspish about his colleagues”

having or covered with protective barbs or quills or spines or thorns or setae etc.

• “a horse with a short bristly mane”
• “bristly shrubs”
• “burred fruits”
• “setaceous whiskers”