chagrin
C1Formal, literary
Definition
Meaning
A feeling of annoyance, embarrassment, or humiliation caused by failure, disappointment, or a wounded ego.
A state of vexation or mortification, often arising from a sense of failure or from being thwarted; acute disappointment mingled with irritation or shame.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Chagrin implies a more acute, personal, and often lasting sense of vexation than simple disappointment. It often carries a nuance of wounded pride or self-esteem. It is more commonly used as a noun than a verb.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical in meaning and frequency. The verb form 'to chagrin' is rare in both varieties but slightly more attested in American English.
Connotations
Slightly more literary/formal in British English; in American English, it can occasionally appear in slightly less formal contexts (e.g., business or journalism).
Frequency
Low-frequency word in both varieties, but consistently understood by educated speakers.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[Subject] felt chagrin at [event/action].Much to [Possessive Pronoun] chagrin, [clause].It chagrined [Object] that [clause].Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Much to my chagrin (standard introductory phrase)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe professional embarrassment or frustration, e.g., 'To the CEO's chagrin, the merger fell through.'
Academic
Appears in literary criticism, history, and psychology texts to describe emotional states of characters or historical figures.
Everyday
Rare in casual speech; used by educated speakers in narrative or descriptive contexts about personal feelings.
Technical
Not typically used in scientific or highly technical registers.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- It chagrined him profoundly to be passed over for promotion.
- She was chagrined to discover her error had been so public.
American English
- It chagrined the team to lose the championship in the final seconds.
- He was chagrined by the lukewarm reviews of his latest book.
adverb
British English
- He smiled chagrinedly as he accepted the consolation prize.
- She admitted chagrinedly that she had forgotten the documents.
American English
- 'My mistake,' he said chagrinedly, correcting the figure on the whiteboard.
- She nodded chagrinedly, acknowledging the valid criticism.
adjective
British English
- He gave a chagrined smile after realising his blunder.
- A chagrined expression crossed her face.
American English
- She was visibly chagrined by the oversight.
- His chagrined admission saved the meeting from further argument.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- He felt some chagrin when he lost the game.
- To her chagrin, it started to rain during the picnic.
- Much to his chagrin, his younger sister was offered the job he wanted.
- She tried to hide her chagrin when her presentation was criticised.
- The author's chagrin at the novel's poor reception was palpable, though he maintained a dignified public silence.
- It is a source of profound chagrin to the government that the policy has failed to achieve its primary objective.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a SHA-GRIN (a forced, grimacing grin) you make when you're secretly very annoyed or embarrassed.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHAGRIN IS A BITTER TASTE / CHAGRIN IS A HEAVY BURDEN (e.g., 'stomach one's chagrin', 'weighed down by chagrin').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid translating as 'огорчение' (more 'sorrow/grief'), 'досада' is closer but less formal.
- Do not confuse with 'shagreen' (a type of leather), a false cognate.
Common Mistakes
- Misspelling as 'shagrin'.
- Using it as a common synonym for 'anger' or 'sadness'.
- Incorrect pronunciation: /ˈtʃæɡ.rɪn/.
Practice
Quiz
Which sentence uses 'chagrin' CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, it is a mid-to-low frequency word, most common in formal or literary writing and the speech of educated individuals.
Yes, but it is rare. The participial adjective 'chagrined' is more common than the base verb form 'to chagrin'.
The fixed phrase 'much to [someone's] chagrin' is by far the most frequent and natural-sounding usage.
Chagrin focuses more on the mixture of irritation and wounded pride from a setback. Embarrassment focuses more on the self-conscious shame from a social faux pas. One can be chagrined in private, but embarrassment typically involves a real or imagined audience.
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