Synonyms of gall

gall 1 of 2

noun

ˈgȯl 

1

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will

her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hostility
• grudge
• bitterness
• hatred
• rancor
• tension
• animus
• malice
• animosity
• antagonism
• enmity
• jaundice
• feud
• antipathy
• friction
• bad blood
• discord
• hate
• vendetta
• virulence
• score
• spite
• vindictiveness
• vitriol
• blood feud
• venom
• loathing
• disaffection
• alienation
• malignity
• strain
• malignancy
• conflict
• estrangement
• unfriendliness
• coolness
• spitefulness
• inhospitableness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• amity
• hospitality
• cordiality
• sympathy
• friendliness
• civility
• understanding
• amiability
• neighborliness
• friendship
• empathy
• goodwill
• comity
• amicability

2

as in nerve

shameless boldness

I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh

Synonyms & Similar Words

• nerve
• arrogance
• temerity
• audacity
• effrontery
• chutzpah
• brass
• face
• confidence
• crust
• presumption
• cheek
• brashness
• brazenness
• audaciousness
• presumptuousness
• pertness
• assurance
• cheekiness
• sauce
• sauciness
• hardihood
• disrespect
• impudence
• brassiness
• nerviness
• insolence
• impertinence
• cockiness
• self-confidence
• self-assurance
• rudeness
• overconfidence
• incivility
• inconsideration
• inconsiderateness
• sass
• impoliteness
• back talk
• sanguinity
• swagger
• ungraciousness
• swash
• discourteousness

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• timidity
• modesty
• hesitancy
• diffidence
• bashfulness
• shyness
• manners
• timorousness
• courtesy
• faintheartedness
• gentility
• graciousness
• timidness
• civility
• courteousness
• mannerliness

gall

2 of 2

verb

1

as in to wear

to damage or diminish by continued friction

move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it

Synonyms & Similar Words

• wear
• erode
• rub
• fray
• bite
• reduce
• chafe
• eat
• scrape
• fret
• abrade
• erase
• shave
• gnaw
• corrade
• sharpen
• file
• chew
• scour
• rasp
• nibble
• sandblast
• graze
• grate
• wear out
• frazzle
• wipe (away)
• dissolve
• corrode
• rub out
• disintegrate
• scuff
• grind
• decompose
• sandpaper
• whet
• hone
• break down
• break up

2

as in to bother

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts

humming through your nose like that absolutely galls me

Synonyms & Similar Words

• bother
• annoy
• bug
• irritate
• persecute
• get
• spite
• eat
• aggravate
• anger
• gripe
• nettle
• rile
• frost
• exasperate
• chafe
• get to
• grate
• infuriate
• ruffle
• irk
• vex
• insult
• worry
• itch
• hack (off)
• put out
• pique
• provoke
• tease
• wear on
• nark
• rasp
• burn (up)
• plague
• peeve
• get one's goat
• stick in one's craw
• set one's teeth on edge
• harass
• rouse
• heckle
• upset
• offend
• rub the wrong way
• get on one's nerves
• nag
• badger
• outrage
• devil
• enrage
• pester
• inflame
• hassle
• rankle
• antagonize
• affront
• distress
• agitate
• bait
• harry
• discomfort
• undo
• unsettle
• disquiet
• perturb
• discompose
• roil
• unhinge
• fret
• exercise
• incense
• madden
• hagride
• bullyrag
• miff
• freak (out)

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• placate
• appease
• please
• oblige
• pacify
• conciliate
• gratify
• delight
• satisfy
• mollify
• propitiate
• assure
• content
• cheer
• soothe
• reassure
• comfort
• console
• gladden
• quiet
• solace

3

as in to irritate

to make sore by continued rubbing

tie your shoes so they don't gall your heels sliding on and off like that

Synonyms & Similar Words

• irritate
• scratch
• scrape
• chafe
• excoriate
• fret
• skin
• abrade
• peel
• burn
• graze
• inflame
• flay

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gall different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of gall are audacity, cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, hardihood, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy

has the cheek to call herself a singer

had the gall to demand proof

the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

In what contexts can audacity take the place of gall?

In some situations, the words audacity and gall are roughly equivalent. However, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

When could effrontery be used to replace gall?

The meanings of effrontery and gall largely overlap; however, effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

When is hardihood a more appropriate choice than gall?

The synonyms hardihood and gall are sometimes interchangeable, but hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

When might temerity be a better fit than gall?

The words temerity and gall can be used in similar contexts, but temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of gall

Noun

Imagine having the gall to besmirch the name of a young mother killed for trying to speak up for her neighbors or of an ICU nurse shot in the back for trying to tend to a woman who had been pepper-sprayed in the face. —Sasha Abramsky, Washington Post, 2 Feb. 2026

The documents that Dooley was now handling were barely yellowed, their edges lightly frayed, the oak gall ink ranging from brown to black. —Literary Hub, 28 Jan. 2026

Verb

What galls them is Toberoff’s tooth-and-nail negotiations and his insistence on becoming a producer himself, complete with credit and fees. —Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026

Bundle is also galled by Lady Coote’s refusal to mention at the inquest that the fatal sleeping draft was from a bottle she’d given to her sleepless maid, Emily. —Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026