chagrin

1 of 2

noun

cha·​grin shə-ˈgrin 

British usually ˈsha-grin

: disquietude or distress of mind caused by humiliation, disappointment, or failure

chagrin

2 of 2

verb

chagrined shə-ˈgrind 

British usually ˈsha-grind

; chagrining shə-ˈgri-niŋ 

British usually ˈsha-gri-niŋ

transitive verb

: to vex or unsettle by disappointing or humiliating

he was chagrined to learn that his help was not needed

Did you know?

Despite what its second syllable may lead one to believe, chagrin has nothing to do with grinning or amusement—quite the opposite, in fact. Chagrin, which almost always appears in phrases such as “to his/her/their chagrin,” refers to the distress one feels following a humiliation, disappointment, or failure. Perhaps unsurprisingly, the word’s French ancestor, the adjective chagrin, means “sad.” What may be surprising is that the noun form of the French chagrin, meaning “sorrow” or “grief,” can also refer to a rough, untanned leather (and is itself a modification of the Turkish word sağrı, meaning “leather from the rump of a horse”). This chagrin gave English the word shagreen, which can refer to such leather, or to the rough skin of various sharks and rays.

Examples of chagrin in a Sentence

Noun

As many a woman has learned to her chagrin, pathological liars are brilliant at deception. —Katha Pollitt, Nation, 16 June 2003

In World War I, to his chagrin, Eisenhower again found himself on the sidelines, performing training duties stateside while Pershing, MacArthur, and Patton earned their battle ribbons. —U.S. News & World Report, 16 Mar. 1998

In 1628, to the chagrin of Governor William Bradford, the Pilgrims erected an 80-foot Maypole, danced around it, drank beer, and sang. —E. C. Krupp, Sky & Telescope, May 1994

Imagine my chagrin when a whiz kid from Dayton made all A's in the first quarter while I made two B's and a C+. —John Hope Franklin, Race and History, 1989

The fact that he'd been unable to attend the funeral was a source of chagrin for Ted.

She had gained five pounds over the winter, much to her chagrin.

He decided to get a tattoo, to the chagrin of his parents.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

To the chagrin of budget travelers everywhere, airfares have continued to climb to new highs throughout 2026. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 4 Sep. 2026

Playing the part largely for laughs, Moore actually has more in common with Lazenby than Connery; his Bond is softer and sillier than the original, an approach Moore would double down on in later films — often to the chagrin of Bond purists. — Jim Hemphill, IndieWire, 3 Sep. 2026

Verb

There are more stars in his cell phone, but Robinson’s too chagrined to name them. — Josh Kendall, New York Times, 4 Sep. 2026

In the trailer released as part of the show’s panel at the Annecy Animation Festival, the pair explore romance as adults, much to their parents chagrin. — Joe Otterson, Variety, 24 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Noun and Verb

French, from chagrin sad

First Known Use

Noun

1661, in the meaning defined above

Verb

1733, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for chagrin

• akin
• auxin
• buckskin
• crankpin
• deerskin
• foreskin
• fuchsin
• herein
• kingpin
• linchpin
• pigskin
• pinyin

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Kids Definition

chagrin

1 of 2 noun

cha·​grin shə-ˈgrin 

: a feeling of being annoyed by failure or disappointment

chagrin

2 of 2 verb

chagrined -ˈgrind  ; chagrining -ˈgrin-iŋ 

: to cause to feel chagrin