frustrate
[ fruhs-treyt ]
/ ˈfrʌs treɪt /
Save This Word!
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.
QUIZ
THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of frustrate
First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Latin frustrātus, past participle of frustrārī, verbal derivative of frustrā “in vain”
synonym study for frustrate
1. See thwart.
OTHER WORDS FROM frustrate
frus·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. 2023
How to use frustrate in a sentence
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 forms of frustrate
frustrater, nounWord 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