chagrin
/ʃəˈɡrɪn/ IELTSAcademic
noun
Chagrin is a feeling of embarrassment, disappointment, or annoyance after a mistake, failure, or awkward situation.
- To her chagrin, she forgot his name.
- He felt chagrin after missing the deadline.
- Much to our chagrin, the plan failed.
verb
If something chagrins you, it makes you feel embarrassed, disappointed, or annoyed.
- His rude comment chagrined her.
- I was chagrined by my careless mistake.
- The delay chagrined everyone on the team.
Adinary Nuance
Chagrin is stronger and more formal than simple embarrassment. It often includes disappointment or irritation, not just feeling shy or awkward. Writers choose chagrin when the feeling comes after a mistake or public failure. It sounds more polished than words like embarrassment, discomfort, or annoyance.
In other languages
- Vietnamese
- xấu hổ
- Spanish
- desazón
- Chinese
- 懊恼
- Japanese
- 落胆
- Korean
- 당혹감
Etymology
Chagrin came into English from French in the 1600s. The French word means worry or irritation, and English kept that feeling of embarrassment mixed with annoyance.
Common phrases
to someone's chagrinmuch to someone's chagringreat chagrinwith chagrin
Synonyms
Related words
Frequently asked questions
- Is chagrin formal or informal?
- It is fairly formal. People use it more in writing than in casual speech.
- What is the difference between chagrin and embarrassment?
- Chagrin usually includes embarrassment plus disappointment or annoyance.
- Can I use chagrin in business writing?
- Yes, but it sounds formal. It works well in reports or polished emails.
- Is chagrin a noun or a verb?
- It is both. The noun is more common in everyday writing.