Meanings
comparative more galling · superlative most galling
- Vexing, humiliating; eliciting indignation or bitterness.
Uruguay were quick to the ball, strong in the tackle and seemed intent on showing they were a better team than had been apparent in their defeat to Costa Rica. Yet the most galling part for England is that they helped them on their way.
2014 June 20, Daniel Taylor, “World Cup 2014: Uruguay sink England as Suárez makes his mark”, in guardian.co.uk
plural gallings
- countableuncountableA feeling that induces bitterness.
the gallings of one's own conscience
- countableuncountableMaterial transfer caused by adhesion between sliding surfaces, potentially resulting in wear or binding.
1 more example
If, however, the input crank on the standby rudder actuator is not free to rotate with respect to the actuator housing because of galling between the shaft and bearing, the actuator housing, input crank, and control rod will act as a rigid link between the rudder and the torque tube. The inability to change the length of this link by rotation of the standby rudder actuator input crank within the actuator housing will affect the feedback mechanism between the rudder position and the MPCU input crank. This condition can result in problems ranging from high pilot control force necessary to move the rudder to uncommanded rudder deflections.
2001 March 27, National Transportation Safety Board, “1.16.3 Detail Examination and Tests of Standby Rudder Actuator Input Shaft and Bearing”, in Aircraft Accident Report: Uncontrolled Descent and Collision With Terrain, United Airlines Flight 585, Boeing 737-200, N999UA, 4 Miles South of Colorado Springs Municipal Airport, Colorado Springs, Colorado, March 3, 1991, archived from the original on 08 May 2022, page 63
- gerundparticiplepresentpresent participle and gerund of gall
Synonyms & antonyms
adjectivecausing irritation or annoyance
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
From gall + -ing. The adjective follows from the verb.
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Bulgarian оскърбителен, унизителен
- оскърбителен (oskărbitelen)vexing
- унизителен (unizitelen)vexing
Dutch ergerlijk
- ergerlijkvexing
German ärgerlich
- ärgerlichvexing
Russian раздража́ющий, унижа́ющий
- раздража́ющий (razdražájuščij)vexing
- унижа́ющий (unižájuščij)vexing
Spanish fastidioso, molestoso
- fastidiosovexing
- molestosovexing
- irritantevexing
Cite this entry
galling. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 2, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galling
“galling.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galling. Accessed November 2, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “galling,” accessed November 2, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/galling.
Source: galling on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.