galling 1 of 2

galling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of gall
1
2
3
as in irritating
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

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of galling
Adjective
In the most galling but predictable sense, that same scoreline would be repeated, only in Newcastle’s favour. Jacob Tanswell, The Athletic, 27 Dec. 2024 The answer is galling: Vlachodimos’ cost in the club’s books came to £22.8m. That puts him 12th on the list of Newcastle’s most expensive signings. Chris Weatherspoon, New York Times, 23 Apr. 2025
Verb
The indignity of it is galling. Erik Kain, Forbes, 21 Nov. 2024 This fiction will be galling to some people, but deeply reassuring to others. Joshua Rothman, The New Yorker, 15 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for galling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for galling
Adjective
  • The Copycat Conundrum: When Local Laws Protect Your Competitors Perhaps the most frustrating aspect of international franchising involves dealing with local copycat operations that exploit legal protections designed for domestic businesses.
    Mohaimina Haque, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
  • The director’s latest feature, Jimmy Jaguar, is another brooding head-scratcher, one that’s equal parts fascinating and frustrating.
    Jordan Mintzer, HollywoodReporter, 8 July 2025
Adjective
  • Bernie had facial fractures, cuts and bruises around his face, and very painful muscle injuries.
    Lucy Notarantonio, MSNBC Newsweek, 9 July 2025
  • Deciding where to manufacture your product is one of the most painful questions today.
    Alex Gudilko, Forbes.com, 9 July 2025
Verb
  • The traditional barriers surrounding proprietary AI are eroding, ushering in a new era of innovation that will redefine the global AI race.
    Vandana Rana, Forbes, 5 Mar. 2025
  • Gerrymandering reduces electoral competition, entrenches incumbents, and marginalizes whole communities, ultimately eroding public trust in democracy.
    The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 5 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • When handled, these treefrogs secrete a sticky toxin as a defense, which can be irritating to mucous membranes of people or pets who make contact with them.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 8 Apr. 2025
  • All three ingredients offer significant benefits for skin brightening and skin texture, but also tend to be irritating to people with sensitive skin.
    Caroline C. Boyle, USA Today, 2 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Figuring out how to reply to an annoying co-worker on Slack?
    Rachel Wells, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
  • In other words, these annoying tasks will actually start to feel good.
    Meg Walters, Glamour, 28 June 2025
Adjective
  • Unlike harsher retinoids, this one is gentle enough for sensitive skin.
    Simon Hill, Wired News, 10 July 2025
  • The mask fully blocks out the harsh cabin lighting and that inevitable sunrise glow before landing.
    Samantha Leal, Travel + Leisure, 10 July 2025
Verb
  • Rodin Cars The big idea behind Rodin is to build cars without bothering about vehicle regulations – in stark contrast to F1 cars, which are subject to several rules around how they're put together.
    New Atlas, New Atlas, 2 Jan. 2025
  • The city and state have also been ramping up efforts to engage troubled vagrants sleeping and sometimes bothering straphangers, connecting them with services and shelter and potentially involuntary treatment.
    New York Daily News Editorial Board, New York Daily News, 27 Dec. 2024
Verb
  • But that’s just scratching the surface – addressing only the symptoms of the underlying challenges and only addressing them at the end of the SDLC process.
    Jeremy Vaughan, Forbes, 23 Dec. 2024
  • Similar to a sheet pan, whole meals can be built in a Dutch oven, scratching that same itch for convenience and less clean up.
    Alana Al-Hatlani, Southern Living, 23 Dec. 2024

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Cite this Entry

“Galling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galling. Accessed 15 Jul. 2025.

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