frustrate
[ fruhs-treyt ]
/ ˈfrʌs treɪt /
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
frumious, frump, frumpy, frunze, frusemide, frustrate, frustrated, frustrating, frustration, frustrative, frustule
Origin of frustrate
1400–50; late Middle English < Latin frustrātus, past participle of frustrārī, verbal derivative of frustrā in vain
SYNONYMS FOR frustrate
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 frustrating
British Dictionary definitions for frustrating
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
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Word Origin and History for frustrating
frustrate
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