frustrated
Americanadjective
-
disappointed; thwarted.
an announcer who was a frustrated actor.
-
having a feeling of or filled with frustration; dissatisfied.
His unresolved difficulty left him absolutely frustrated.
adjective
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of frustrated
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.
Vocabulary lists containing frustrated
In the Mood? 100 Words to Describe Emotions
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
myPerspectives 7.1
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
Orbiting Jupiter
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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.
Frustrated fans have gone shirtless during the Angels’ homestand and chanted for owner Arte Moreno to “sell the team.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 25, 2026
Frustrated by traffic, Musk founded The Boring Company in 2016, initially as a SpaceX subsidiary, with grand promises of transforming urban transportation through a network of underground tunnels.
From Barron's • May 20, 2026
Frustrated by lack of city attention, an L.A. homeowner hired her housekeeper to help clean the neighborhood.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026
Frustrated career aspirations and economic dissatisfaction are common among college graduates, perhaps unusually so today.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 12, 2026
Frustrated with drawing, I switched to the printmaking department, where I overturned great buckets of ink.
From "Me Talk Pretty One Day" by David Sedaris
![]()
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.