tuh-MAIR-ih-tee
(noun) Excessive confidence or boldness; audacity.
He had the temerity to challenge the judge in open court.
Fun Fact
Temerity is a literary favorite for describing fools who rush in—characters whose bravery veers into absurd risk. It’s often seen in war stories, courtroom dramas, or political speeches to call out rash behavior disguised as courage. Shakespeare and Dickens both used it to describe characters blinded by pride or ego.
shuh-GRIN
(noun) A feeling of distress or embarrassment caused by failure or disappointment.
To her chagrin, the carefully planned surprise party was spoiled by an accidental group text.
From French chagrin, meaning “sorrow” or “vexation,” possibly derived from a word for “rough skin” — like something that irritates.
Fun Fact
The word chagrin carries an emotional texture that’s more complex than simple embarrassment — it’s a blend of frustration, disappointment, and self-directed annoyance. In 17th-century France, chagrin described both emotional irritation and literal roughness, as if one’s pride had been rubbed raw. Writers often use it to show quiet, internal defeat rather than public humiliation — the kind that makes you wince later, long after the moment has passed.
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