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
Relevance
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 area may be slightly swollen, red, itchy and irritated.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
30 Mar. 2026
-
Both ingredients blanket dry, irritated skin and deeply restore moisture for that signature K-beauty glass-skin glow.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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When inflation cools, investors typically demand lower yields on long-term bonds because their future returns are less likely to be eroded by rising prices.—
Angelica Leicht,
CBS News,
26 Mar. 2026
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Vaccines protect, but public trust has eroded One of the best benefits of the pandemic is innovation in vaccines.—
Cindy Krischer Goodman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
Verb
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One who grew up respectful but annoyed by the success the league previously had in Seattle.—
Ira Winderman,
Sun Sentinel,
25 Mar. 2026
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Social media reactions to the bunny range from enamored to amused to annoyed at the price tag, which runs from $112 to $140.—
Reia Li,
AZCentral.com,
22 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Keeping your electronics separated is an excellent way to avoid scratched screens and tangled cables.—
BestReviews,
Chicago Tribune,
25 Mar. 2026
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When agents reemerged, many of them were scratched and bleeding from navigating the heavy brush.—
Alexandra Koch,
FOXNews.com,
24 Mar. 2026
Adjective
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For the first time in a minute, PTA doesn’t look too bothered to be explaining himself about this movie, perhaps because he’s finally got the hardware to back up a worthy film that dares to upset or even confound its audience.—
Fran Hoepfner,
Vulture,
16 Mar. 2026
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Winnipeg Jets, 25-26-10 Feb. 6: 28 Sean: 25 Dom: 25 The perfect deadline: Addition by subtraction Logan Stanley and Luke Schenn are the exact sort of player archetypes that get traditional contending GMs overly hot and bothered.—
Dom Luszczyszyn,
New York Times,
6 Mar. 2026
Verb
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The hosts at Peacock Alley wore floor-length dresses with golden paillettes that would not be amiss on an Emmys red carpet.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
30 Mar. 2026
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One guest wore lettuce on his head, another had a bird’s nest in her antlers, and a third donned a pineapple on top of a wire basket.—
Serena Turner,
Vanity Fair,
30 Mar. 2026
Verb
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Three people told the Washington Examiner that Scott had become paranoid that Lewandowski was spying on him through his work phone and had bugged his office.—
Anna Giaritelli,
The Washington Examiner,
27 Mar. 2026
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Underwood went on The Bachelor as a straight man, made a connection with Randolph, broke up with her, bugged her car, and then was hit with a restraining order.—
Jason P. Frank,
Vulture,
27 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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After the Canadiens’ loss to the Sharks on Saturday, Lane Hutson was somewhat exasperated that issues the Canadiens have talked about for months keep coming up.—
Arpon Basu,
New York Times,
16 Mar. 2026
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Documentarian Geeta Gandbhir retraces this slow-moving tragedy through the body camera footage of the exasperated officers who know that the caller, not the children, is the problem.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Galled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galled. Accessed 31 Mar. 2026.
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