galling

American

[gaw-ling] / ˈgɔ lɪŋ /

adjective

that galls; chafing; irritating; vexing.

Synonyms:

provoking , annoying

galling British

/ ˈɡɔːlɪŋ /

adjective

irritating, exasperating, or bitterly humiliating
obsolete rubbing painfully; chafing

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Word Forms

gallingly adverb
gallingness noun
ungalling adjective

Etymology

Origin of galling

First recorded in 1640–50; gall ² + -ing ²

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.

The most galling part of this defeat is what it could have done to Australia.

From BBC

The timing of the announcement was particularly galling for some.

From Los Angeles Times

Fans bang on about loyalty this, loyalty that - the rank hypocrisy is galling.

From BBC

Sometimes even the smallest things seem especially galling.

From Los Angeles Times

That fact is galling considering the gala’s 77-year history and is incredibly relevant to a moment when Trump, his cabinet, and businesses affected by the government are scaling back diversity, equality and inclusion policies.

From Salon

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023