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Chagrin vs Dismay - What's the difference?

chagrin | dismay |

As nouns the difference between chagrin and dismay

is that chagrin is distress of mind caused by a failure of aims or plans, want of appreciation, mistakes etc; vexation or mortification while dismay is a sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.

As verbs the difference between chagrin and dismay

is that chagrin is to bother or vex; to mortify while dismay is to disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive of firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.

chagrin

English

Noun

  • Distress of mind caused by a failure of aims or plans, want of appreciation, mistakes etc; vexation or mortification.
  • * 1876 , , Rose In Bloom , ch. 8:
    • [H]e alone knew how deep was the deluded man's chagrin at the failure of the little plot which he fancied was prospering finely.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1905, author=
    • , title= , chapter=1 citation , passage=“Mrs. Yule's chagrin and horror at what she called her son's base ingratitude knew no bounds ; at first it was even thought that she would never get over it. […]”}}
  • A type of leather or skin with a rough surface.

    • Usage notes

    * Often used in the form to one’s chagrin .

    Synonyms

    * (distress of mind) disquiet, fretfulness, mortification, peevishness, vexation * (type of leather) shagreen

    Descendants

    * shagreen

    See also

    * disgust * disappointment

    Verb

    (en verb)
  • To bother or vex; to mortify.
    • She was chagrined to note that the paint had dried into a blotchy mess.
  • To be vexed or annoyed.
    • (Fielding)

    Usage notes

    * The verb form is rarely found in other than passive voice.

    References

    Anagrams

    * ----

    dismay

    English

    Noun

    (-)
  • A sudden or complete loss of courage and firmness in the face of trouble or danger; overwhelming and disabling terror; a sinking of the spirits; consternation.
  • Condition fitted to dismay; ruin.

    • Verb

    (en verb)
  • To disable with alarm or apprehensions; to depress the spirits or courage of; to deprive of firmness and energy through fear; to daunt; to appall; to terrify.
  • * Bible, Josh. i. 9
    • Be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed .
  • * Fairfax
    • What words be these? What fears do you dismay ?
  • To render lifeless; to subdue; to disquiet.
  • * Spenser
    • Do not dismay yourself for this.
  • To take dismay or fright; to be filled with dismay.
  • * 1592 , , III. iii. 1:
    • Dismay not, princes, at this accident,