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

The ability of the Broncos’ core four pass-rushers up front to win one-on-ones — Cooper, NFL sack leader Nik Bonitto, Zach Allen, Franklin-Myers — and the secondary’s ability to win in man coverage on the back-end has given coordinator Vance Joseph the ingredients and the gall of a mad scientist. —Luca Evans, Denver Post, 16 Oct. 2025

Two interesting examples of insects that need goldenrods are the goldenrod gall fly and the goldenrod gall moth. —Markis Hill, Kansas City Star, 16 Sep. 2025

Verb

Her words so galled many on the left, each column became a source of knee-jerk opposition online. —Jessica Coacci, Fortune, 8 Oct. 2025

The case of the Renteria family was particularly galling for those trying to uphold Loving County’s residency requirements. —Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025