1
as in frustrating
causing annoyance
her holier-than-thou attitude is galling
Synonyms & Similar Words
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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
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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
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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
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of galling
Matias Grez, CNN, 23 Jan. 2025
That’s a shame, because there are undoubtedly many galling stories to unearth from the series’ 25-year-run.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Jan. 2025
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
Adjective
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
That’s a shame, because there are undoubtedly many galling stories to unearth from the series’ 25-year-run.
—Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Jan. 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
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Perhaps most frustrating for affected users is the lack of clear, timely communication.—
Alex Vakulov,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
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For a less frustrating mowing experience, have mower blades sharpened.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
21 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Even the indoor scenes were painful because you’re locked inside that heat.—
Lynette Rice,
Deadline,
23 Mar. 2025
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The recent swoon, while painful for current shareholders, has driven the headline yield up to 6% and has driven valuations down—NOG trades for 7 times earnings estimates and at a low price/earnings-to-growth (PEG) ratio of 0.56 (anything below 1 is considered to be undervalued).—
Brett Owens,
Forbes,
23 Mar. 2025
Verb
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These measures, intended to reduce systemic financial risks, inadvertently triggered a liquidity crisis, leaving developers unable to complete projects and further eroding consumer confidence.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
3 Jan. 2025
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In an era of eroding public trust and red-hot campus culture wars, the public higher education is now more political than ever, said Holden Thorp, editor in chief of the journal Science and former chancellor of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.—
Ian Hodgson,
Orlando Sentinel,
3 Jan. 2025
Verb
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Cover irritating clothing seams with a smooth material such as silk to avoid abrasive irritation.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
5 Jan. 2025
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At Abercrombie & Fitch Packed with conditioning and hydrating castor oil, argan oil & coconut oil, this eyelash & brow growth serum will help promote the appearance of longer, fuller looking lashes and brows without the use of irritating or harmful ingredients.—
refinery29.com,
refinery29.com,
4 Jan. 2025
Adjective
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Frozen snack foods sold under Whole Foods Market’s 365 store brand got recalled nationwide for not being what the packaging says, an annoying mistake to some people but a possibly fatal one to other customers.—
David J. Neal,
Miami Herald,
16 Mar. 2025
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The Achilles — and any accompanying tendonitis — is the most annoying and concerning issue for a skill player who turns 29 in June.—
Troy Renck,
The Denver Post,
15 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Designed for hiking and other outdoor adventures, these water-resistant pants are made with UPF 50 protection from harsh sun rays along with several spacious, handy pockets.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
22 Mar. 2025
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And few other front offices are under a harsher microscope this March than the Bulls, whose main prize for trading Zach LaVine was the ability to recoup their draft pick from a prior swap with the San Antonio Spurs.—
Julia Poe,
Chicago Tribune,
21 Mar. 2025
Verb
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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
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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
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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
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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
Cite this Entry
“Galling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galling. Accessed 2 Apr. 2025.
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