frustrate
verb (used with object)
to make (plans, efforts, etc.) worthless or of no avail; defeat; nullify.
frustrating
-
present participleof frustrate.present participle
A verb form that is used in progressive verb constructions and may also function as a modifier or a gerund.
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.
Leaders have to develop a mental framework that can help them weather frustrating periods, and Singh Cassidy said she has found tennis useful in that regard.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 12, 2026
“Maybe it was frustrating at the time. In hindsight, it doesn’t really matter. If you’re a good player, you’ll keep playing.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 11, 2026
That idea sent me down a rabbit hole involving real-estate agents, tiny shoebox apartments and frustrating chats with mortgage brokers.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
The response to women's concerns can also be frustrating, she adds.
From BBC ● Aug. 3, 2026
He’d kept his gloves on, something the guards might have easily taken note of, and a frustrating concession to his weakness, but if he hadn’t, he felt fairly sure he’d have gone completely mad.
From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo
