1
as in frustrating
causing annoyance
her holier-than-thou attitude is galling
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in painful
hard to accept or bear especially emotionally
losing in the last round of play-offs was galling to our home team
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
1
as in eroding
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 annoying
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
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
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Recent Examples of galling
Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 Sep. 2025
What’s particularly galling is the timing.
—Chip Monaco, Oc Register, 1 Sep. 2025
Mitch Moxley, Rolling Stone, 27 Sep. 2025
The loss will be particularly galling for Świątek, who had match point at 40-30 up but was unable to convert and reach her first Australian Open final.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for galling
Adjective
That's especially galling to Agriculture Department employee Cole Gandy, who trains CBP workers stationed at ports of entry on how to inspect agricultural imports for pests.
—Andrea Hsu, NPR, 1 Sep. 2025
What’s particularly galling is the timing.
—Chip Monaco, Oc Register, 1 Sep. 2025
Verb
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
The loss will be particularly galling for Świątek, who had match point at 40-30 up but was unable to convert and reach her first Australian Open final.
—Matias Grez, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
See All Example Sentences for galling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for galling
Adjective
-
Ignoring Temperature and Environment Every oven behaves differently, which can make baking frustrating at first.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
22 Feb. 2026
-
More and more hard-to-trace checks are laundered among political committees, with their murky-sounding names and Tallahassee addresses, frustrating attempts by voters or the media to figure out exactly who’s giving to whom.—
Steve Bousquet,
Sun Sentinel,
21 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Grey’s Anatomy star Katherine Heigl is getting candid about the painful process of grieving her late costar, Eric Dane.—
Shania Russell,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 Feb. 2026
-
For people with Crohn’s disease, those decisions can have serious consequences, including painful flares, emergency room visits and long-term complications.—
Amy Sue Harper,
The Orlando Sentinel,
22 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
The moral fiber of this country is eroding fast, based on lack of love for one another, divisions in this country, greed, and the partisan bickering from American political leaders.—
Letters to the Editor,
Hartford Courant,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Issues like new forms of energy, natural disasters, global warming — these forces are now eroding traditions and cultures that once continued almost effortlessly in Japan.—
Patrick Brzeski,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes, rage bait can be relatively harmless – a recipe that contains disgusting food combinations or someone annoying their pet, partner or sibling.—
Issy Ronald,
CNN Money,
1 Dec. 2025
-
But what’s been annoying me even more is that these women should have been trained by producers to start recording on their own cell phones if drama starts to unfold after cameras go down.—
Tom Smyth,
Vulture,
12 Nov. 2025
Verb
-
The gentle formula removes dirt and product buildup with a mild lather without irritating the scalp.—
Jamie Wilson,
Glamour,
20 Feb. 2026
-
A lot of anti-aging skincare contains ingredients like retinol that can be drying and irritating, but Cetaphil has a possible solution.—
Lauren Taylor,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Nell Tiger Free stars as a young novice who works at a Catholic orphanage plagued by mysterious, disturbing circumstances.—
Kevin Jacobsen,
Entertainment Weekly,
21 Feb. 2026
-
In an initial statement Wednesday, Blalock said the video is disturbing and the parents and families of these students should be embarrassed.—
Allie Hennard,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
20 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
The scene, however, of Myers skating around for warmups and enjoying some time with his family underscored the harsh realities of trade deadline season for the players — and the families — directly involved.—
Thomas Drance,
New York Times,
26 Feb. 2026
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While many ground covers are resilient and can thrive in harsh growing conditions, such as areas with full sun and dry soil, environments that are overly damp and soggy can be tricky for certain ground covers.—
Madeline Buiano,
Martha Stewart,
26 Feb. 2026
Verb
-
Minutes later, wearing a blue lanyard with a solid gold medal hanging across his chest, Tkachuk called into the stands for Gaudreau’s two children to join the official team picture.—
Chris Kudialis,
Miami Herald,
23 Feb. 2026
-
That ruling paved the way for federal immigration officials to continue wearing masks during California operations.—
Nathaniel Percy,
Daily News,
22 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Galling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galling. Accessed 28 Feb. 2026.
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