galling 1 of 2

adjective

ˈgȯ-liŋ How to pronounce galling (audio)
Definition of gallingnext
1
as in frustrating
causing annoyance her holier-than-thou attitude is galling

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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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galling

2 of 2

verb

present participle of gall
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

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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

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
Holdbacks, lawyer fees and smaller checks What is especially galling, some victims said, is that their compensation for years of fighting for justice will boil down to a day’s pay for a Purdue attorney like Huebner, who charges $2,935 an hour. — Craig R. McCoy, CNN Money, 24 Apr. 2026 What is especially galling, some victims said, is that their compensation for years of fighting for justice will boil down to a day’s pay for a Purdue attorney like Huebner, who charges $2,935 an hour. — Craig R. McCoy, ProPublica, 23 Apr. 2026
Verb
There’s no getting around paying taxes, but there’s something galling about paying for the privilege. — Brian Sloan,dan Avery, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026 Vulture’s Bilge Ebiri found the trauma plot especially galling in FNAF2, since that’s what every horror movie is about nowadays. — Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for galling
Recent Examples of Synonyms for galling
  1. frustrating
  2. painful
  3. eroding
  4. annoying
  5. irritating
  6. disturbing
  7. harsh
  8. wearing
Adjective
  • At this point in the draft, every RB has questions, but volume remains king, and Harvey could be in a frustrating battle for touches all season.
    — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026
  • Bohm’s Phillies career has been sometimes frustrating, sometimes exciting, sometimes perplexing.
    — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026
Definition of frustrating
Adjective
  • Be sure to start below the injury and wrap upward, overlapping each layer but never so tightly that fingers or toes become numb or painful.
    — Dr. Jill Grimes, CNN Money, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Its absence does not make the eventual adjustment less painful.
    — MICHAEL PETTIS, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of painful
Verb
  • By eroding the feedback loop that every stable government—even the most authoritarian—needs to stay in power, the Putin regime is becoming less capable of understanding the real condition of Russia.
    — Andrei Soldatov, Foreign Affairs, 31 Aug. 2026
  • This ambiguity from different agencies creates an information vacuum, fostering misinformation and eroding public trust.
    — Omer Awan, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of eroding
Verb
  • Kids in all three countries loved learning dances from TikTok and annoying their siblings.
    — Ryan Lenora Brown, Christian Science Monitor, 12 Aug. 2026
  • Of course, this would depend on whether the managers choose to pick their strongest teams in what for some is a meaningless, even annoying extra fixture, for squads who just want to go home.
    — Eduardo Tansley, New York Times, 18 July 2026
Definition of annoying
Verb
  • Oh, and don’t worry about sparkles irritating your gaze—the formula is ophthalmologist-tested.
    — Conçetta Ciarlo, Vogue, 28 Aug. 2026
  • Be sure to use a fragrance-free, gentle detergent to avoid irritating sensitive skin with any residue.
    — Nafeesah Allen, Better Homes & Gardens, 19 Aug. 2026
Definition of irritating
Adjective
  • Last awards season, the gossip around town, salacious and disturbing in equal measure, was that hotel suites all over Hollywood were populated by tailors taking in gowns coming straight off the runway.
    — Marti Noxon, HollywoodReporter, 26 Aug. 2026
  • The disturbing situation came to light after a tree fell on the home during a storm.
    — Bailey Richards, PEOPLE, 24 Aug. 2026
Definition of disturbing
Adjective
  • Scott London Every year, Black Rock City appears on a dry lakebed in one of Nevada’s harshest areas, then disappears just as fast.
    — Jim Dobson, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026
  • Hig has bunkered down with a grouchy companion, Bangley (Josh Brolin), who thrives in this harsh world.
    — Amy Nicholson, Los Angeles Times, 28 Aug. 2026
Definition of harsh
Verb
  • Wear it with leggings for a travel outfit that feels a little more elevated than wearing a sweatsuit.
    — Jasmine Gomez, Travel + Leisure, 30 Aug. 2026
  • Shoes left at the door, donning slippers to be worn except on tatami mats, wearing yukatas to the onsen and to dinner that night.
    — Everett Potter, Forbes.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Definition of wearing

Browse Nearby Words

gallimaufry
galling
gallivant
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Cite this Entry

“Galling.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galling. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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