chagrin
Americannoun
verb (used with object)
-
to vex by disappointment or humiliation.
The rejection of his proposal chagrined him deeply.
-
Obsolete. shagreen.
noun
verb
Related Words
See shame.
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of chagrin
First recorded in 1650–60; from French; origin unknown
Explanation
Chagrin is a noun that represents an emotion or feeling and it's an uncomfortable one. If you feel chagrin, it means that you are embarrassed or distressed as a result of a failure. The word chagrin, a noun, comes from the French word of the same spelling and means "melancholy, anxiety, vexation." An odd fact about the word in English is that it had been thought to be related to another, similar-sounding word, shagreen, "rough, untanned leather." When one mistakes one word as a relative of another, it's called "false etymology."
Vocabulary lists containing chagrin
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"The Necklace" by Guy de Maupassant
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The center, to the chagrin of many in the NBA, has long been known more for his finesse touch shots than physical play.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
To my chagrin but not my surprise, no one else in the theater came with their tail tucked between their legs, covered by a trench coat.
From Salon • Apr. 25, 2026
The government has also been forced to cut certain subsidies to yeshivas, much to the chagrin of the ultra-Orthodox parties.
From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025
Much to Beijing's chagrin, those running many such scam centres are often Chinese themselves.
From BBC • Nov. 8, 2025
“Yeah. And much to my ever-loving chagrin, I am your tour guide.”
From "An Abundance of Katherines" by John Green
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
