GALL Synonyms: 253 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How is the word 'gall' different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of gall are audacity , cheek , chutzpah , effrontery , hardihood , nerve , and temerity . While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," nerve , cheek , gall , and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery . // the nerve of that guy // has the cheek to call herself a singer // had the gall to demand proof // the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

Q: In what contexts can 'audacity' take the place of 'gall'?

In some situations, the words audacity and gall are roughly equivalent. However, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence. // an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

Q: When could 'effrontery' be used to replace 'gall'?

The meanings of effrontery and gall largely overlap; however, effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy. // outraged at his effrontery

Q: When is 'hardihood' a more appropriate choice than 'gall'?

The synonyms hardihood and gall are sometimes interchangeable, but hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance. // admired for her hardihood

Q: When might 'temerity' be a better fit than 'gall'?

The words temerity and gall can be used in similar contexts, but temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger. // had the temerity to refuse

gall 1 of 2

noun

ˈgȯl

Definition of gall

as in hostility

a deep-seated ill will her kindly feelings turned to gall when she found out her nephew only wanted her money

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in nerve

shameless boldness I can't believe he had the gall to ask me how much I weigh

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

gall

2 of 2

verb

as in to wear

to damage or diminish by continued friction move that rope so the sharp edge of the hull doesn't gall it

Synonyms & Similar Words

as in to bother

to disturb the peace of mind of (someone) especially by repeated disagreeable acts humming through your nose like that absolutely galls me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to irritate

to make sore by continued rubbing tie your shoes so they don't gall your heels sliding on and off like that

Synonyms & Similar Words

Synonym Chooser

How is the word gall different from other nouns like it?

Some common synonyms of gall are audacity, cheek, chutzpah, effrontery, hardihood, nerve, and temerity. While all these words mean "conspicuous or flagrant boldness," nerve, cheek, gall, and chutzpah are informal equivalents for effrontery.

the nerve of that guy

has the cheek to call herself a singer

had the gall to demand proof

the chutzpah needed for a career in show business

In what contexts can audacity take the place of gall?

In some situations, the words audacity and gall are roughly equivalent. However, audacity implies a disregard of restraints commonly imposed by convention or prudence.

an entrepreneur with audacity and vision

When could effrontery be used to replace gall?

The meanings of effrontery and gall largely overlap; however, effrontery implies shameless, insolent disregard of propriety or courtesy.

outraged at his effrontery

When is hardihood a more appropriate choice than gall?

The synonyms hardihood and gall are sometimes interchangeable, but hardihood suggests firmness in daring and defiance.

admired for her hardihood

When might temerity be a better fit than gall?

The words temerity and gall can be used in similar contexts, but temerity suggests boldness arising from rashness and contempt of danger.

had the temerity to refuse

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of gall

Noun

That the earnestness the genre requires galls us cynics, who love to hide in our books, away from all those pesky bodies in the first place? — Brittany Allen, Literary Hub, 13 Aug. 2026 After Carl Linnaeus—the father of the discipline, who had the gall to coin Homo sapiens—died in 1778, the slogan Deus creavit, Linnaeus disposuit (God created, Linnaeus organized) began to circulate. — Dan Piepenbring, Harpers Magazine, 4 Aug. 2026

Verb

The thought of mailing in what has become a lost season was equally as galling for Green. — Joseph Dycus, Mercury News, 26 Mar. 2026 There’s no getting around paying taxes, but there’s something galling about paying for the privilege. — Brian Sloan,dan Avery, CNBC, 24 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for gall

Recent Examples of Synonyms for gall

Noun

That does not mean that everyone who supports a ban is motivated by hostility toward women.

— Jesse Rhodes, The Conversation, 20 Oct. 2026
Weil offers an extreme version of this hostility to the self.

— James Wood, New Yorker, 19 Oct. 2026

Definition of hostility

Noun

The millimeter-wide arrangements of around 10,000 nerves and supporting cells sat on microelectrode arrays that let researchers stimulate the tissue and record its activity.

— Mike McRae October 19, New Atlas, 20 Oct. 2026
Steven Huefner, deputy director of the Election Law Program at Ohio State University, says poll chaplains might be able to calm the frayed nerves of a voting public that is constantly exposed to divisive rhetoric and news about political violence.

— Deepa Bharath, Los Angeles Times, 20 Oct. 2026

Definition of nerve

Verb

Gee, who used to pop into fraternity parties unannounced to keep tabs on them, said he is not bothered by the reintegration of the three formerly rogue organizations.

— Brittany Shammas, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026
This is a dense picture—there’s almost too much to unpack, if you can be bothered to care about any of it.

— Stephanie Zacharek, Time, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of bother

Noun

Greaves kept his cameras rolling, catching legends affectionately reminiscing, airing grudges, grousing about the next generation and, occasionally, demanding credit where credit is due.

— David Fear, Rolling Stone, 16 Oct. 2026
Cohan joins the eight-episode series as Catherine ‘Cat’ Keegan, a former homecoming queen whose small-town charm has sharpened into something fiercer thanks to decades of old grudges and regrets.

— Payton Turkeltaub, Variety, 15 Oct. 2026

Definition of grudge

Noun

An America that seeks justice with dignity and wisdom, not arrogance and gore.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 14 Oct. 2026
These fascinating, illuminating episodes raise the question of whether great fiction requires the kind of single-mindedness and even arrogance that McCarthy cultivated.

— New York Times, New York Times, 8 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogance

Verb

Washington must take care, however, not to transfer defense responsibilities faster than allies can develop the capabilities to assume them—and not to do so in ways that erode trust, interoperability, and coordination.

— Andrea Kendall-Taylor, Foreign Affairs, 16 Oct. 2026
The deck replacement is necessary because traffic loads on the span have become increasingly heavy, and salt air has eroded bridge materials.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of erode

Browse Nearby Words

galilees

gall

gallant

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Gall.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/gall. Accessed 21 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of gall

noun

verb

Synonym Chooser

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

jilt

Popular in Grammar & Usage

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Can' vs. 'May'

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

More Commonly Mispronounced Words

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?

Even More Bird Names that Sound Like Insults (and Sometimes Are)

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Popular

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes