galling
Hard to stomach
Galling describes something that causes persistent irritation or wounded pride—an insult, injustice, or failure that rankles because it feels undeserved or humiliating.
The most galling part was that she was right.
A galling defeat stings worse than an ordinary loss.
The word carries a sense of something that chafes at you, hard to shake off or accept.
Causing acute embarrassment
- embarrassingCausing awkward self-consciousness
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- degradingLowering in worth
- disgracefulCausing loss of respect
humbling · belittling · demoralizing · crushing · debasing · undignified · indignity · chagrining
Causing mild irritation
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
- vexingCausing mild torment
- irksomeCausing mild frustration
- infuriatingCausing extreme anger
maddening · frustrating · aggravating · rankling · nettling · provoking · grating · chafing
Irritation from friction
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- sorePainful or annoyed
- rawIn original state
irritation · saddle sore · blister · skin · harness · collar
Unjust or partial
- outrageousShockingly bad or excessive
- undeservedNot rightfully owed
- unmeritedNot rightfully due
- inequitableNot fair or impartial
unjust · rubbing it in · adding insult · double standard · insult to injury · unearned · privileged · favoritism
mortifying
Causing acute embarrassment
- embarrassingCausing awkward self-consciousness
- shamefulCausing or meriting disgrace
- degradingLowering in worth
disgraceful · humbling · belittling · demoralizing · crushing · debasing · undignified · indignity · chagrining · deflating
annoying
Causing mild irritation
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
- vexingCausing mild torment
- irksomeCausing mild frustration
infuriating · maddening · frustrating · aggravating · rankling · nettling · provoking · grating · chafing · nagging
chafing
Irritation from friction
- frictionResistance between touching surfaces
- rubbingApplying pressure while moving
- sorePainful or annoyed
raw · irritation · saddle sore · blister · skin · harness · collar
unfair
Unjust or partial
- outrageousShockingly bad or excessive
- undeservedNot rightfully owed
- unmeritedNot rightfully due
inequitable · unjust · rubbing it in · adding insult · double standard · insult to injury · unearned · privileged · favoritism · nepotism
- frictionfriction, rubbing, abrading, friction burn, rolling friction
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, frustrating
- machining defectsburr, burrs, chatter, tool mark, overcut
- mechanical wearabrasion, tire wear, chafing, fretting, friction
- damagebreakage, break, crack, fracture, dent
- defectsdefect, flaw, crack, cracks, defective
gallinggratifying
Giving pleasure or satisfaction
pleasing · satisfying · delightful · heartening · comforting
gallingbearable
Able to be endured
tolerable · endurable · acceptable · sufferable · supportable
- Gallic WarsRoman conquest of tribes