as in irritated
subjected to and reacting with irritation
I was particularly galled when she didn't even offer to pay half the cab fare
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in eroded
to damage or diminish by continued friction
move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it
Synonyms & Similar Words
2
as in annoyed
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
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of galled
Sophie Brookover, Vulture, 15 Jan. 2026
From Warriors coach Steve Kerr, to future Hall of Famers Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, to 25-year-old relative newcomers Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis, the team’s lack of competitive fire galled the Warriors.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
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 fact that criminals would seek to take advantage of an old man’s lack of sophistication about the workings of the internet galled Tejasvi.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
From Warriors coach Steve Kerr, to future Hall of Famers Jimmy Butler and Draymond Green, to 25-year-old relative newcomers Quinten Post and Trayce Jackson-Davis, the team’s lack of competitive fire galled the Warriors.
—Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2025
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 fact that criminals would seek to take advantage of an old man’s lack of sophistication about the workings of the internet galled Tejasvi.
—Jeffrey Kluger, Time, 9 Sep. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for galled
Adjective
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The eye cream is also formulated with squalane to help soften and calm irritated skin, as well as Argireline peptide, which is so effective at smoothing wrinkles that it’s been called the Botox of skincare.—
Kaelin Dodge,
InStyle,
7 June 2026
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The victim, 21-year-old Matt Duffy, said that Dana was irritated by his friends and him riding a jet ski.—
Neal Riley,
CBS News,
4 June 2026
Verb
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Others spend hundreds of millions only to be left with excess inventory, eroded margins and consumers who have already moved on.—
Keren Novack,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2026
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As the rocks eroded and wore away into their iconic shapes, Native people hunted, gathered and farmed beside them.—
Alia Beard Rau,
USA Today,
10 June 2026
Verb
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Ever been annoyed after Windows setup that your user folder has a weird name?—
Jon Martindale,
PC Magazine,
28 May 2026
-
When people get their interest rate wrong, they get annoyed.—
Sam Sammane,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Verb
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The Dodgers’ game against the Pirates on Wednesday was the fourth Smith had missed since being scratched from the lineup Saturday with a stiff neck.—
Maddie Lee,
Los Angeles Times,
10 June 2026
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Soler was scratched before Friday's game against the Los Angeles Dodgers because of hip tightness.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
6 June 2026
Adjective
-
Margot Robbie and Jacob Elordi star as childhood pals turned hot and bothered frenemies having quite the torrid love affair as adults in a sumptuous and quite haughty bad romance.—
Brian Truitt,
USA Today,
8 May 2026
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After a frustrating conversation with a hotel staffer about the air conditioning, a hot and bothered Fuller threw on a ball cap, turned it backward and recorded a rant on his cellphone.—
Tia Mitchell,
AJC.com,
1 May 2026
Verb
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Perry wore a floor-length white gown as Trudeau kept his look simple in a white dress shirt and black blazer over matching slacks.—
KiMi Robinson,
USA Today,
9 June 2026
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For both occasions, the Princess Royal wore the hat with yellow outfits.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
8 June 2026
Verb
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When Riley returned to the table, La La told me that his high profile in the city sometimes bugged her, because fans were always interrupting them, even sitting down at their table.—
Emily Nussbaum,
New Yorker,
17 May 2026
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Upon arriving at big-league camp this spring, Rojas said the different grip initially bugged him.—
Dan Hayes,
New York Times,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
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An exasperated Tomás enters the thicket himself to retrieve, among other items, Liam’s boot, and doesn’t emerge until the next day—not screaming, but fundamentally changed.—
Nora Biette-Timmons,
Condé Nast Traveler,
2 June 2026
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Republican voters, the bulwark of the president’s political power, appear similarly exasperated.—
David M. Drucker,
Twin Cities,
31 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Galled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galled. Accessed 13 Jun. 2026.
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