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definitions

frustrate

[ fruhs-treyt ]
/ ˈfrʌs treɪt /
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verb (used with object), frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing.

to make (plans, efforts, etc.) worthless or of no avail; defeat; nullify: The student's indifference frustrated the teacher's efforts to help him.
to disappoint or thwart (a person): a talented woman whom life had frustrated.

verb (used without object), frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing.

to become frustrated: His trouble is that he frustrates much too easily.

adjective

Obsolete. frustrated.

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RELATED WORDS

hinder, depress, discourage, dishearten, confront, baffle, obstruct, prevent, cramp, lick, stump, neutralize, forbid, obviate, dash, cancel, negate, counteract, circumvent, check

Nearby words

  1. frumious,
  2. frump,
  3. frumpy,
  4. frunze,
  5. frusemide,
  6. frustrated,
  7. frustrating,
  8. frustration,
  9. frustrative,
  10. frustule

Origin of frustrate

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin frustrātus, past participle of frustrārī, verbal derivative of frustrā in vain
Related formsfrus·trat·er, nounfrus·trat·ing·ly, adverbfrus·tra·tive [fruhs-trey-tiv, -truh-] /ˈfrʌs treɪ tɪv, -trə-/, adjectivere·frus·trate, verb (used with object), re·frus·trat·ed, re·frus·trat·ing.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for frustrate

British Dictionary definitions for frustrate

frustrate

/ (frʌˈstreɪt) /

verb (tr)

to hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; thwart
to upset, agitate, or tireher constant complaints began to frustrate him

adjective

archaic frustrated or thwarted; baffled
Derived Formsfrustrater, noun

Word Origin for frustrate

C15: from Latin frustrāre to cheat, from frustrā in error
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Word Origin and History for frustrate

frustrate

v.

mid-15c., from Latin frustratus, past participle of frustrari "to deceive, disappoint, frustrate," from frustra (adv.) "in vain, in error," related to fraus "injury, harm" (see fraud). Related: Frustrated; frustrating.

Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper