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Synonyms

frustrated

American  
[fruhs-trey-tid] / ˈfrʌs treɪ tɪd /

adjective

  1. disappointed; thwarted.

    an announcer who was a frustrated actor.

  2. having a feeling of or filled with frustration; dissatisfied.

    His unresolved difficulty left him absolutely frustrated.


frustrated British  
/ frʌˈstreɪtɪd /

adjective

  1. having feelings of dissatisfaction or lack of fulfilment

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of frustrated

First recorded in 1635–45; frustrate + -ed 2

Explanation

Frustrated is an adjective that describes feeling disappointed and unsuccessful. If you try to fix your car for hours and hours but it still won't work, you will feel frustrated. People become frustrated when they fail to achieve their goals, both large and small. If you are constantly frustrated, it can build up into anger or bitterness. People sometimes need to vent, or express themselves, when they are very frustrated, in order to let it go. But if you can't shake that frustrated feeling, maybe a change is in order — a new job, different friends, maybe even a cat to remind you that calm is good.

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Vocabulary lists containing frustrated

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.

See Examples For:

She said students sometimes grew frustrated as the work dragged on and dust forced them to close the windows.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 13, 2026

Watson's character Eilidh harbours dreams of being an artist, but is frustrated that life is not going to plan.

From BBC Sep. 13, 2026

Young voters said they felt frustrated waiting for a better economy that has yet to materialize.

From Los Angeles Times Sep. 13, 2026

"I was so frustrated and angry and couldn't understand why they would leave me like that," says Alan.

From BBC Sep. 10, 2026

Ophelia wasn’t surprised—the phones in Mirebalais worked half the time at best—but she still felt frustrated, and a little dejected.

From "Mountains Beyond Mountains" by Tracy Kidder and Michael French

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