frustrate

American  

[fruhs-trayt] / 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

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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”

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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

Such a delay would "frustrate the nature and purpose of the search," said the police, in their application for search warrants.

From BBC ● Oct. 16, 2026

It said she was engaged in “gamesmanship… familiar in capital litigation … designed to frustrate … ‘the State’s strong interest in finality and the surviving victims’ right to closure.”

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

That may frustrate reformers, but it’s democracy working as designed.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 21, 2026

If he can frustrate Uruguay the same way, Cape Verde could be through to the round of 32.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

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

From "Votes for Women!" by Winifred Conkling

I have seen similar essays throughout my eight decades of life, and the subject frustrates me — though perhaps not for the reason you might suspect.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 26, 2026

Smith was discussing opportunities for business leaders and employees to unlock the potential of AI—a challenge that frustrates many senior executives, as WSJ Leadership Institute President Alan Murray noted—rather than highlighting marketing in particular.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 2026

But there is one thing that frustrates Randolph: “That he waited two years to come play for me.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 25, 2026

It is that love for the United States that thoroughly frustrates those around the world who thought our country represented freedom and diversity.

From Salon ● May 22, 2026

And as these meetings were the only opportunity Marco was given to see his instructor, the continued absence frustrates him.

From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern

As Fielder clarifies the punchline, Holmes breaks down in tears across from him, frustrated that she can’t understand.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

After not seeing any action as a true freshman, he was frustrated by the lack of playing time but stayed the course, working to see the field the following season.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

A frustrated Serling did not control the show’s content.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 15, 2026

Those who thought it would be easy were typically frustrated and disappointed.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 14, 2026

I was frustrated with myself, more than anything—for hoping.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

After a frustrating stretch with the Chicago Sky, the former LSU star and Caitlin Clark rival was shipped to Atlanta.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 17, 2026

How frustrating that he of all people — the dark prince of pranks — may be Holmes’ latest patsy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 14, 2026

"It's very frustrating for people to know that these medicines are available and that they're not able to access them through the NHS - but these drugs are not going away," she said.

From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026

If I was only performing other people’s words, I’d find that frustrating, I think.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 13, 2026

SABIO, IAN: I know he can be frustrating, but so can you.

From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly

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Related Words

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