galling
adjective
gall·ing ˈgȯ-liŋ 
: markedly irritating : vexing
a most galling defeat
gallingly
ˈgȯ-liŋ-lē
adverb 
Synonyms
- abrasive
- aggravating
- annoying
- bothersome
- carking
- chafing
- disturbing
- exasperating
- frustrating
- irksome
- irritating
- maddening
- nettlesome
- nettling
- peeving
- pesky
- pestiferous
- pestilent
- pestilential
- pesty
- plaguey
- plaguy
- rankling
- rebarbative
- riling
- vexatious
- vexing
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
This is a galling defeat. her holier-than-thou attitude is galling
Recent Examples on the Web Who’s the most galling, captivating character on our screens this summer? 
Martin Weil, Washington Post, 1 July 2020 The crackdown has been most galling to people mourning family members. Vivian Wang, New York Times, 4 May 2020 The exclusion was all the more galling considering that Awkwafina earned a Golden Globe and Zhao picked up an Independent Spirit Award. NBC News, 11 Feb. 2020 The really galling fact is that, even after those cuts, Sanders’s plan would still cost more than $36 trillion over the next ten years. Michael Tanner, National Review, 8 Apr. 2020 Not only is that a galling and unjust situation, but, like all trickle-down strategies, its economic value is decidedly limited. Jeff Spross, TheWeek, 12 Mar. 2020 Each statistic is as galling as the next: The average American reported working 47 hours per week, per a 2014 Gallup poll. Nick Martin, The New Republic, 14 Jan. 2020 But honestly, none of that would be so bad except for the most galling aspect of today’s Halloween protocol: the fact that most parents don’t allow their children to keep their haul. BostonGlobe.com, 12 Oct. 2019 His death became a galling illustration of the city’s inability to shield cyclists from danger. Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, 10 Feb. 2020 See More
Martin Weil, Washington Post, 1 July 2020 The crackdown has been most galling to people mourning family members. Vivian Wang, New York Times, 4 May 2020 The exclusion was all the more galling considering that Awkwafina earned a Golden Globe and Zhao picked up an Independent Spirit Award. NBC News, 11 Feb. 2020 The really galling fact is that, even after those cuts, Sanders’s plan would still cost more than $36 trillion over the next ten years. Michael Tanner, National Review, 8 Apr. 2020 Not only is that a galling and unjust situation, but, like all trickle-down strategies, its economic value is decidedly limited. Jeff Spross, TheWeek, 12 Mar. 2020 Each statistic is as galling as the next: The average American reported working 47 hours per week, per a 2014 Gallup poll. Nick Martin, The New Republic, 14 Jan. 2020 But honestly, none of that would be so bad except for the most galling aspect of today’s Halloween protocol: the fact that most parents don’t allow their children to keep their haul. BostonGlobe.com, 12 Oct. 2019 His death became a galling illustration of the city’s inability to shield cyclists from danger. Rachel Swan, SFChronicle.com, 10 Feb. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
from present participle of gall entry 2
First Known Use
1583, in the meaning defined above
galling 1 of 2
adjective
1
as in frustrating
causing annoyance her holier-than-thou attitude is galling Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- frustrating
- irritating
- annoying
- disturbing
- aggravating
- maddening
- exasperating
- irksome
- rankling
- vexing
- chafing
- painful
- nettling
- bothersome
- vexatious
- abrasive
- rebarbative
- nettlesome
- pestiferous
- riling
- infuriating
- carking
- plaguey
- pesky
- troubling
- pestilential
- peeving
- plaguy
- pesty
- enraging
- biting
- disquieting
- discomforting
- distressing
- distractive
- upsetting
- angering
- burdensome
- pestilent
- displeasing
- importunate
- troublesome
- importune
- tiresome
- inconveniencing
- stressful
- offensive
- worrisome
- trying
- jarring
- mischievous
- grating
- bratty
- jangling
- brattish
- thorny
- spiny
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- delightful
- pleasing
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
- painful
- cruel
- harsh
- bitter
- agonizing
- excruciating
- grievous
- terrible
- severe
- hurtful
- harrowing
- horrible
- unacceptable
- torturous
- afflicting
- awful
- appalling
- unbearable
- intolerable
- tormenting
- dreadful
- heartrending
- vile
- insufferable
- miserable
- insupportable
- dire
- bad
- ghastly
- extreme
- wretched
- unendurable
- acute
- intense
- rotten
- nasty
- piercing
- unsupportable
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gratifying
- pleasing
- sweet
- tolerable
- bearable
- endurable
- sustainable
- acceptable
- supportable
- reasonable
- allowable
- survivable
- livable
- sufferable
- liveable
galling
2 of 2verb
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
- eroding
- wearing
- fraying
- rubbing
- chafing
- fretting
- biting
- reducing
- abrading
- shaving
- scraping
- corrading
- gnawing
- rasping
- filing
- frazzling
- grating
- erasing
- corroding
- sharpening
- scouring
- eating
- scuffing
- sandpapering
- chewing
- grazing
- grinding
- nibbling
- sandblasting
- disintegrating
- wearing out
- decomposing
- honing
- dissolving
- whetting
- rubbing out
- wiping (away)
- breaking down
- breaking up
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
- annoying
- irritating
- bothering
- bugging
- persecuting
- aggravating
- getting
- exasperating
- infuriating
- vexing
- grating
- chafing
- griping
- worrying
- nettling
- angering
- irking
- eating
- riling
- itching
- insulting
- teasing
- ruffling
- provoking
- plaguing
- narking
- peeving
- rasping
- spiting
- enraging
- getting to
- frosting
- piquing
- upsetting
- putting out
- wearing on
- offending
- unsettling
- maddening
- nagging
- harassing
- distressing
- rankling
- badgering
- heckling
- disquieting
- sticking in one's craw
- hassling
- discomforting
- getting one's goat
- burning (up)
- rousing
- getting on one's nerves
- hacking (off)
- inflaming
- agitating
- setting one's teeth on edge
- pestering
- harrying
- rubbing the wrong way
- perturbing
- baiting
- outraging
- incensing
- antagonizing
- fretting
- affronting
- undoing
- unhinging
- enflaming
- roiling
- deviling
- exercising
- devilling
- bullyragging
- ballyragging
- hagriding
- discomposing
- miffing
- freaking (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- gratifying
- obliging
- placating
- appeasing
- pleasing
- satisfying
- conciliating
- pacifying
- mollifying
- delighting
- reassuring
- comforting
- consoling
- propitiating
- assuring
- soothing
- contenting
- cheering
- quieting
- gladdening
- solacing
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
- irritating
- scratching
- chafing
- excoriating
- fretting
- scraping
- abrading
- grazing
- peeling
- burning
- inflaming
- skinning
- enflaming
- flaying