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
Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
But to have the hypocrisy be laid out so starkly, just a few clicks away on the same website, is particularly galling.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 24 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for galling
Adjective
Especially galling is how the state Democratic Party has done next to nothing to help Latinos become household names who can win.
—Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 5 Mar. 2026
But to have the hypocrisy be laid out so starkly, just a few clicks away on the same website, is particularly galling.
—James Folta, Literary Hub, 9 Feb. 2026
Verb
Particularly galling to California taxpayers – who must balance the family budget in a state with a punishinglyhigh cost of living – is the fact that the deficits persist even with huge revenue increases.
—Jon Coupal, Oc Register, 24 Nov. 2025
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
See All Example Sentences for galling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for galling
Adjective
-
Employing a fictional slasher movie of yesteryear as the portal into a conversation about self and desire, this is heady, strange stuff, frustrating at times but captivating in both its confusion and its honesty.—
David Rooney,
HollywoodReporter,
22 May 2026
-
Witt is pacing toward a historic, never-seen-it-before season — for all the right individual reasons, but for all the frustrating organizational reasons.—
Sam McDowell
Updated May 22,
Kansas City Star,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
Loafers can sometimes feel weirdly stiff straight out of the box, but this popular Uptown pair skips that painful break-in phase.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2026
-
But as the disease progressed, their relationship fractured in painful ways.—
Tereza Shkurtaj,
PEOPLE,
24 May 2026
Verb
-
Kaua'i’s northwest coast is one of the world's most rapidly eroding shores.—
Brianna Randall,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2026
-
As many others have noted, including Fortune contributor Bhaskar Chakravorti, dean of global business at the Tufts Fletcher School, this is now structurally unwinding, rather than slowly eroding.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
Verb
-
Weird; annoying even – but the floaters did not seem urgent.—
Peter Ubel,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2026
-
My biggest concern about adding a tracking device around Mya’s neck was annoying her or creating disruption.—
Tyler Hayes,
PC Magazine,
13 May 2026
Verb
-
Key Points Cayenne pepper can deter squirrels by irritating their senses without causing harm.—
Melissa Epifano,
The Spruce,
28 May 2026
-
When midges bite, a small welt can emerge that can be itchy and irritating.—
Alexiah Syrai Olsen,
Sacbee.com,
27 May 2026
Adjective
-
In a statement to local media, the town government said Fox Rothschild has long represented Rolesville and called the incident deeply disturbing.—
Eduardo Cuevas,
USA Today,
23 May 2026
-
In September 2016, economics professor Matthew Hendricks and some 3,000 other employees at the University of Tulsa received a disturbing email from the administration.—
Matt Schifrin,
Forbes.com,
22 May 2026
Adjective
-
The table tells a harsher story.—
Eddie Brown,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
29 May 2026
-
The girls’ mother, who traveled to appear in court Thursday with Doe 8, called for a harsh punishment and described how O’Connor, once in Idaho, helped sneak out Doe 8 to see her son, at one point provided them a hotel room.—
Robert Salonga,
Mercury News,
28 May 2026
Verb
-
Sometimes foot pain really does come down to wearing completely flat sandals on repeat, and this pair feels like a smarter swap.—
Chaise Sanders,
Travel + Leisure,
25 May 2026
-
Vargas plans on wearing sunglasses Sunday.—
LaMond Pope,
Chicago Tribune,
24 May 2026
Cite this Entry
“Galling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galling. Accessed 31 May. 2026.
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