chagrin

/ˈʃæɡ.ɹɪn/

Group 29Difficulty 2/3

Definition

(noun)
Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated
GRE

Example in Context

To the chagrin of its proponents, the bill failed to attract enough votes to reach the floor for debate, dying quietly in committee.

Synonyms

embarrassmentdismayannoyance

Etymology

Derived from a French term for feeling of disappointment or distress.

  • chagrin (French) — sadness

Memory Aid

😬Sounds like “shag grin

A dog with a shaggy coat giving a GRIN after embarrassing itself by tripping over its own tail!

Visual Association

😳A person blushing bright red after accidentally sending a text meant for someone else to their boss.

Semantic Clusters

Synonym Groups

Frequently Asked Questions

What does “chagrin” mean on the GRE?

chagrin (noun) means “Distress or embarrassment at having failed or been humiliated”. To the chagrin of its proponents, the bill failed to attract enough votes to reach the floor for debate, dying quietly in committee.

How to remember “chagrin” for the GRE?

Mnemonic: “chagrin” sounds like “shag grin”. A dog with a shaggy coat giving a GRIN after embarrassing itself by tripping over its own tail!

What are synonyms for “chagrin”?

Common synonyms: embarrassment, dismay, annoyance.