to gall

Examples

• All

• There was nothing Retsler could do, and that galled him even more.

  Fiction book (1999)

• Plainly, it galled her to admit it.

  Fiction book (1999)

• You do this just to gall me, don't you?

  Meet Wally Sparks (1997)

• The only thing that had galled her was how they looked down on everyone.

  Fiction book (1998)

• The truth was, his happiness galled her, and so did his success.

  Fiction book (1997)

• It just galls me that they put us in this position...

  Margaret (2011)

• Oh, it galls you to admit it, but it's true.

  Fiction book (2002)

• What really galls me is that Dave doesn't consider how this is affecting Karen.

  Fiction book (2000)

• The thing that really galls me is that she's ours and we can't get close to her.

  Weird Science (1985)

• It galls me to say it, but... for reasons known only to the Almighty and your guardian angel... you've been called back to TOPGUN.

  Top Gun: Maverick (2022)

Synonyms

A

to annoy

vsto gall

246 1.0

Make someone slightly angry or bothered by small repeated actions

is more severe, producing anger and lasting resentment rather than slight bother

F

to frustrate

vsto gall

137 3.0

Make someone feel annoyed because they cannot do something

more directly attacks feelings, creating anger or resentment rather than blocked goals

A

to anger

vsto gall

114 1.0

To make someone very upset or annoyed

adds a strong element of lasting resentment beyond a brief upset

T

to taunt

vsto gall

• Offensive

93 5.8

To mock someone again and again to make them angry or upset

aims at causing real hurt and lasting resentment rather than mere provocation

I

to irritate

vsto gall

78 2.9

Make someone feel annoyed or impatient, often by repeated small actions

is harsher and usually creates anger that feels personal

E

to enrage

vsto gall

68 3.7

To make someone very angry

is strong too but often causes long‑lasting resentment rather than sudden fury

R

to rile

vsto gall

63 6.9

Make someone annoyed, often by small things

causes stronger upset and a deeper feeling of resentment

I

to infuriate

vsto gall

46 5.0

Make someone very angry

is slightly less explosive and leans more toward deep resentment

A

to aggravate

vsto gall

43 4.2

Annoy someone and make them angrier

can be intense too but usually aims at deep resentment

A

to antagonize

vsto gall

• US

31 7.6

To make someone angry or unfriendly

tends to produce strong hurt or resentment rather than general hostility

S

to spite

vsto gall

28 4.9

To deliberately hurt or annoy someone to upset them

can upset strongly too but focuses on causing deep resentment rather than spiteful harm

D

to displease

vsto gall

28 4.7

To make someone feel annoyed or unhappy

creates stronger emotional injury and lingering resentment rather than mild displeasure

I

to irk

vsto gall

25 6.3

Make someone feel annoyed

creates greater hurt and a sense of being deeply offended

R

to rankle

vsto gall

10 8.0

To continue to make someone feel angry or hurt

often triggers acute anger or sharp irritation rather than slow pain

G

to grate

vsto gall

• Informal

9 6.7

Annoy someone more and more over time

is more likely to produce sharp anger or lasting bitterness

G

to get on someone's nerves

vsto gall

• Informal

7 4.9

To bother someone again and again until they feel angry

more often produces sour resentment rather than ongoing irritation alone

P

to pique

vsto gall

2 8.2

To offend someone and make them feel annoyed or hurt

more often angers deeply rather than simply offending pride

P

to peeve

vsto gall

2 6.8

To make someone feel annoyed

causes a stronger sense of being wronged and resentful rather than a petty gripe

R

to raise hackles

vsto gall

1 7.9

To make someone angry or upset

more often creates simmering resentment than an immediate defensive reaction

G

to get one's dander up

vsto gall

• Informal

1 9.1

To make someone angry

often creates longer lasting resentment rather than only a quick flare

D

to disgruntle

vsto gall

1 8.0

To make someone feel unhappy or annoyed

is harsher, producing active resentment rather than simple displeasure

E

to envenom

vsto gall

9.9

To make a person or group feel bitter and angry

causes strong upset but not always lasting bitterness

G

to get someone's goat

vsto gall

• Informal

8.4

To annoy someone or make them angry

tends to provoke deeper resentment and lasting upset rather than simple complaint

Antonyms

P

to please

216 1.0

To make someone happy or satisfied

Idioms

H

to have the gall

• Informal

14 7.9

Be bold enough to do something rude or shocking

G

gall dang

• Archaic

9.9

A mild rude word used to show annoyance or strong feeling

Compounds

G

gall wasp

• Specialized

3 8.6

A small wasp that makes growths on oak leaves where its young grow

G

gall bladder

• Specialized

2 3.9

A small organ under the liver that stores bile until it enters the intestine

C

crown gall

• Specialized

8.4

A bacterial disease that makes lumps at the base of a plant stem

C

cynipid gall wasp

• Specialized

9.9

A small wasp that makes round growths called galls on oak trees and other plants

G

gall and wormwood

• Archaic

9.9

A very bitter experience that feels painful and upsetting

G

gall gnat

• Specialized

9.9

A small fly that makes bumps on plant leaves or stems

G

gall midge

• Specialized

9.9

A small delicate fly whose young make small round bumps on plants

G

gall of the earth

• Specialized

9.9

A plant that lives for several years with drooping clusters of pink flowers and broad leaves like a lion's paw

G

gall-berry

• US

9.9

An evergreen holly shrub with thick leaves and small black berries

S

spruce gall aphid

• Specialized

9.9

A small insect that makes pineapple-shaped growths on young spruce branches

How Annoying

to enrage

68 3.7

to infuriate

46 5.0

to gall

8 7.1

to irritate

78 2.9

to annoy

246 1.0

to bother

∞ 1.0

Surface Forms

Etymology