GALLS Synonyms: 140 Similar and Opposite Words

galls

verb

present tense third-person singular of gall

as in wears

to damage or diminish by continued friction move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

as in bothers

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

as in irritates

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 galls What galls them is Toberoff’s tooth-and-nail negotiations and his insistence on becoming a producer himself, complete with credit and fees. — Tom Dotan, Vanity Fair, 23 Feb. 2026 What especially galls Marion is having eight touchdowns called back this season. — Joe Davidson, Sacbee.com, 29 Oct. 2025

Recent Examples of Synonyms for galls

Verb

Olivia Miles, the rookie point guard for the Minnesota Lynx, wears a pair of bug-eyed sports goggles, black and bulbous, sometimes held in place by a thick strap that runs through her luxuriant Afro.

— Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 30 Aug. 2026
Every patient wears a card on a lanyard, encoded so the equipment knows who's standing in front of it.

— Christopher Elliott, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026

Definition of wears

Verb

That sequencing bothers people who’ve spent careers being told that data systems need privacy protections designed in, not bolted on after a scandal.

— Karl W. Bickel, Baltimore Sun, 25 Aug. 2026
Kurt's key takeaways What bothers me most about this scam is that criminals are going after people who may have the fewest options to protect themselves.

— Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of bothers

Verb

With contact dermatitis, a product like a soap or chemical irritates the skin or causes an allergic reaction, leading to symptoms like itching, discoloration, swelling, or even blisters.

— Ayren Jackson-Cannady, Allure, 20 Aug. 2026
The capsaicin in hot peppers irritates pests and deters them from feeding on plants.

— Farima Ferguson, The Spruce, 15 July 2026

Definition of irritates

Verb

The reassuring finding, across the research represented in the room at the CIFAR workshop, is that candidness about uncertainty generally maintains or builds trust rather than erodes it.

— Aleeza Gerstein, The Conversation, 28 Aug. 2026
The vision ultimately describes a county where growth enhances rather than erodes the characteristics that make Placer distinct.

— Nicole Buss, Sacbee.com, 25 Aug. 2026

Definition of erodes

Verb

Culturally, college football scratches the human itch for tribalism, which America’s ethos of individualism fortunately discourages.

— George F. Will, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026
The brand’s Krossa desk scratches the itch for office furniture that isn’t sterile or corporate-looking.

— Audrey Lee, Architectural Digest, 27 Aug. 2026

Definition of scratches

Verb

Conjuring the troubled inner life of a young, successful Buenos Aires fashion designer with an uncommon mix of stylistic rigor and feeling, the film frays your nerves.

— David Rooney, HollywoodReporter, 16 June 2026
The coalition of supporters frays Still another issue is conflict within the legalization movement itself, particularly between the business and activist wings.

— William Garriott, The Conversation, 17 Apr. 2026

Definition of frays

Browse Nearby Words

gallows birds

galls

galoot

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“Galls.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/galls. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of galls

verb

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