chagrin
shuh-GRIN
/ʃəˈɡrɪn/
Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated; annoyance caused by disappointment.
Blends personal humiliation with irritation or disappointment at one's own failure.
The story behind the word. Chagrin entered English from French, where it originally meant 'rough leather' or 'shagreen' used as an abrasive. Metaphorically, the rough texture came to describe the grating, irritating feeling of disappointment rubbing against one's ego.
Word relationships
- vexation: Vexation emphasizes irritation and frustration, while chagrin specifically includes wounded pride.
- delight: Delight means high pleasure and satisfaction.
Commonly confused with
- grin: A grin is a wide smile, whereas chagrin is a state of annoyed disappointment.
Word family
- chagrined (adjective): feeling annoyed and disappointed
Collocations
- much to his chagrin
- express chagrin
- deep chagrin
Idioms & expressions
- to one's chagrin
Example sentences
- "Much to his chagrin, the rival firm launched an identical product just two days earlier." Professional setback
Memory hook
You might try to wipe away your CHAGRIN with a fake GRIN. Wounded pride turning into irritation.
When not to use
Do not confuse with tragic grief; chagrin involves wounded pride and vexation rather than deep sorrow.
Fun facts
- The French word 'chagrin' also gives us the English word 'shagreen', a type of pebbled untanned leather made from sharkskin.
Explore more words
indignity, ignominious, despondent, confounded, disgraced, debacle
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