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
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
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
-
Some even combine vitamin C with hydrating or soothing ingredients like hyaluronic acid, ceramides, or peptides, so your skin looks bright and plump without ever feeling stripped, thirsty, or irritated.—
Lily Wohlner,
Allure,
24 Jan. 2026
-
As an especially wooden James, Irvine moves through Silent Hill not as a victim unraveling but as an irritated participant weathering a string of weird, disjointed trials.—
Alison Foreman,
IndieWire,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Some Minnesotans reacted with doubt and concern to Homan’s announcement Thursday, as many residents’ trust in law enforcement has been eroded by the killings of two residents, weeks of clashes and a troubled history of high-profile tragedies.—
Elizabeth Wolfe,
CNN Money,
30 Jan. 2026
-
The reaction has eroded support for ICE, which falls under the Department of Homeland Security, with Democrats threatening a government shutdown over funding the agency.—
Rick Jervis,
USA Today,
29 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
When Kelly covered first base in an attempt to complete a double play, he got annoyed when Brantley’s foot clipped his leg.—
Assistant Sports Editor,
Los Angeles Times,
22 Jan. 2026
-
Carolyn was annoyed by Gwyneth Paltrow and was best friends with future Real Housewife Carole Radziwill, who was married to John’s cousin Anthony Radziwill.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
20 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Joining him on the bench in street clothes will be Draymond Green, who was scratched with a back injury that Kerr said the Warriors were approaching similarly to Curry’s knee.—
Joseph Dycus,
Mercury News,
27 Jan. 2026
-
White Abarrio — the 2025 Pegasus winner who was scratched on-track at the Breeders’ Cup last year and hadn’t run since — was one of the favorites for this race, and few thought the 7-year-old Skippylongstocking would have enough to get to the line first.—
Tim Reynolds,
Sun Sentinel,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Those most bothered being Hispanic Americans.—
Douglas Mackinnon,
Boston Herald,
20 Jan. 2026
-
Van Edwards was recently excited to interview a job candidate only to encounter the person’s resting bothered face throughout the conversation.—
Matt Fuchs,
Time,
4 Nov. 2025
Verb
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On Christmas Day in 2025, the little princess wore her long blonde hair partially pulled back in a half-ponytail tied with ribbon for the royal family's church outing at Sandringham.—
Janine Henni,
PEOPLE,
26 Jan. 2026
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The listening second graders, most of whom wore uniforms (light-blue polo shirts, dark-blue pants and skirts) were sitting on a rug decorated with eighth notes, piano keys, and a second-grader-size treble clef.—
Adam Iscoe,
New Yorker,
26 Jan. 2026
Verb
-
Feeling good Weathers has been bugged by several injuries over the last few years.—
Brendan Kuty,
New York Times,
16 Jan. 2026
-
The comings and goings of the many planes at the little field bugged the Marine Corps brass and rattled the hens at the chicken ranch that was once right about where Cold War-era bowlers would one day rattle the pins at Frontier Lanes.—
Eric DuVall,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
14 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
It certainly can be deployed sincerely, yet it’s almost always accompanied by a good-natured, perhaps slightly exasperated, shake of the head.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
3 Jan. 2026
-
Let the Big Three ride out the final years of this glorious era together, with Kerr looking on, exasperated but content in the final year of his contract.—
Dieter Kurtenbach,
Mercury News,
24 Dec. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Galled.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galled. Accessed 30 Jan. 2026.
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