frustrate

American  

[fruhs-treyt] / ˈfrʌs treɪt /

verb (used with object)

• frustrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• frustrated,
  past participle,  past
• frustrating
  present participle

1. to make (plans, efforts, etc.) worthless or of no avail; defeat; nullify.

   The student's indifference frustrated the teacher's efforts to help him.

   Synonyms:

   circumvent, foil, balk

2. to disappoint or thwart (a person).

   a talented woman whom life had frustrated.

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verb (used without object)

• frustrates,
  present (3rd person singular)
• frustrated,
  past participle,  past
• frustrating
  present participle

1. to become frustrated.

   His trouble is that he frustrates much too easily.

adjective

1. Obsolete. frustrated.

frustrate British  

/ frʌˈstreɪt /

verb

1. to hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; thwart

2. to upset, agitate, or tire

   her constant complaints began to frustrate him

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adjective

1. archaic frustrated or thwarted; baffled

Synonym Usage

See thwart.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• frustrater
  noun
• refrustrate
  verb (used with object)
• frustrative
  adjective
• frustratingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• frustrating
  present
• frustrated
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• frustrate
  simple
• frustrates
  simple
• have frustrated
  perfect
• has frustrated
  perfect
• am frustrating
  progressive
• are frustrating
  progressive
• is frustrating
  progressive
• have been frustrating
  perfect progressive
• has been frustrating
  perfect progressive

Past

• frustrated
  simple
• had frustrated
  perfect
• was frustrating
  progressive
• were frustrating
  progressive
• had been frustrating
  perfect progressive

Future

• will frustrate
  simple
• will have frustrated
  perfect
• will be frustrating
  progressive
• will have been frustrating
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of frustrate

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin frustrātus, past participle of frustrārī, verbal derivative of frustrā “in vain”

Explanation

When you frustrate someone, you do your best to annoy, confuse, or even torment that poor person. Maybe you constantly change your mind — that's sure to frustrate anyone who tries to make plans with you. If you have ever been frustrated while writing, you may have dropped your pen — or pushed away your keyboard — and stared angrily out the window, thinking, "How will I ever do this?" Well, that pent-up doubting that has made you stop is a sure sign you are frustrated. Plans, too, can be frustrated, like the snow that frustrates our efforts to run our errands.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

frustrate frustrates frustrated frustrating

The team also committed 13 fouls to frustrate France and break up the flow.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 9, 2026

They raise costs, squeeze margins, and frustrate managers.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 6, 2026

“There’s immense amount of pressure, and sometimes that pressure can get you and frustrate you in different ways,” said Clark.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 2, 2026

VAR continues to be divisive regardless of whether the final decision is correct, and it continues to frustrate the fans.

From BBC ● May 14, 2026

It was a mission that would motivate and frustrate her all her life.

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

"As much as it frustrates me, this process takes time. And on the advice of my doctors, I won't be able to return to the Senate floor to vote quite yet."

From BBC ● Jul. 12, 2026

Angelenos don’t mind haters — it’s the type of city that frustrates residents even on its best days.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 10, 2026

The process -- and the sheer size of the state of 40 million residents -- means California is always slow to finalize results, a fact that frustrates voters of all stripes.

From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026

Based on Donald E. Westlake’s novel “The Hunter,” “Point Blank” has all the makings of a highly involving thriller, but Mr. Boorman consistently frustrates these expectations with more artistic aims.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026

But adults know that life frustrates meticulous planners and makes a mockery of control, so onstage, that is what Volpe takes away from Wayne.

From "Drama High" by Michael Sokolove

Doctors are frustrated because they are bogged down with patients.

From Slate ● Aug. 22, 2026

While fans have clamored for tickets, many were disappointed and frustrated with high prices and limited availability that seemed to sell out almost instantaneously.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 21, 2026

Like a lot of frustrated Americans, she had nearly given up.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

It is no surprise that City's rivals are frustrated.

From BBC ● Aug. 19, 2026

Penelope felt sorry for the frustrated gardener, who had a great deal of work to do and no parasol to shield him from the sun, either.

From "The Interrupted Tale" by Maryrose Wood

She had expected the process to be emotional; what she didn't predict was just how complex and frustrating it would be, at times leaving her tearful and furious.

From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026

After the thrilling highs and frustrating lows of the past four years and 38 Tests, he stroked 91 runs from 93 balls without breaking sweat on day two of the first Test against Pakistan.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

“But it’s not like I’m frustrated just because I’m playing at home or anything. Whether it’s on the road or at home, it would be frustrating, just not helping the team win games.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026

That’s not an uncommon phenomenon, especially when working with a big, financially successful, well-loved property, but it is frustrating.

From Salon ● Aug. 19, 2026

Juanita’s continuous demanding tone was the most frustrating part of her.

From "Summer of the Mariposas" by Guadalupe García McCall

Related Words

• baffle
• confront
• depress
• discourage
• dishearten
• hinder