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 is how rarely they do.

From Salon • Feb. 25, 2026

This galling notion sets her on a rampage.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026

Ms Dyson says she found the aftercare galling, and says this is commonplace for many women.

From BBC • Nov. 10, 2025

Maybe even more galling, Finebaum said his boss had “killed” a planned interview with Trump in 2019.

From Slate • Oct. 8, 2025

It must indeed have been most galling for him to be so addressed by one such as I. 'Miss Kenton, it is dear from your tone you simply have not observed my father.

From "The Remains of the Day" by Kazuo Ishiguro

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