- present participle of gall.
galling
Americanadjective
adjective
-
irritating, exasperating, or bitterly humiliating
-
obsolete rubbing painfully; chafing
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of galling
Explanation
Something that's galling is frustrating or exasperating. A galling argument with your parents leaves you irritated and indignant. Galling things make you angry. It would be galling to lose your job because of someone else's mistake, and it's galling to see some members of society being treated unfairly and feeling helpless to do anything about it. An article with a galling viewpoint makes you fume. Galling comes from the verb gall, which means "annoy," but originally was "chafe or rub until sore."
Vocabulary lists containing galling
Tuck Everlasting
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Unbroken
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
A Separate Peace
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
For rail passengers, it can be galling to hear or read that your train has been delayed, putting your journey, your day, back into a land of uncertainty.
From BBC ● Jul. 5, 2026
The loss of Shazeer is particularly galling as it is the second time he has left Google.
From Barron's ● Jun. 26, 2026
And that’s not even the most galling part.
From Slate ● May 19, 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.
From Salon ● Apr. 24, 2026
Dr. Trefusis expatiated at somewhat galling length upon my achievements; which accolades Lord Dunmore received with kind pleasure, saying, “Faith, excellent! Excellent! You are brave boys, all of you.”
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
