galling

[gaw-ling] / ˈgɔ lɪŋ /

ADJECTIVE

very upsetting

Synonyms

STRONG

aggravating annoying bitter exasperating harassing humiliating irritating plaguing provoking rankling vexing

WEAK

acid afflictive bothersome distasteful grievous irksome nettlesome painful unpalatable vexatious

Antonyms

STRONG

agreeable pleasant

WEAK

cheering comforting pleasing satisfying soothing wonderful

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.

NATO’s European members have frequently found this galling.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 4, 2026

All of that must have been galling to O'Neill.

From BBC • Jun. 11, 2026

And that’s not even the most galling part.

From Slate • May 19, 2026

To the U.A.E., this was especially galling because several OPEC+ states were routinely falling short of their production targets.

From Barron's • May 4, 2026

The obstacle was galling; physicists could peer over the wall at a murky landscape on the far side, shrouded seductively in mist.

From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik

Vocabulary lists containing galling

Tuck Everlasting

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