frustration
Americannoun
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frustrations
plural
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act of frustrating; state of being frustrated.
the frustration of the president's efforts.
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an instance of being frustrated.
to experience a series of frustrations before completing a project.
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something that frustrates, as an unresolved problem.
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a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems.
noun
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the condition of being frustrated
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something that frustrates
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psychol
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the prevention or hindering of a potentially satisfying activity
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the emotional reaction to such prevention that may involve aggression
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Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of frustration
First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English frustracioun, from Latin frustrātiōn-, stem of frustrātiō “deception, disappointment”; equivalent to frustrate + -ion
Explanation
Frustration is a feeling of annoyance that occurs when something doesn't go as you expect. There are few things more likely to cause frustration for an impatient driver than rush hour traffic. When you can't get what you want, or you're stuck in some way, you'll experience frustration. A spelling bee competitor who almost wins will feel frustration. The thing that causes you to feel this way can also be called a frustration — like your moody sister, the frustration of your home life. Frustration comes from the Latin frustrationem, "a deception or a disappointment."
Vocabulary lists containing frustration
A Long Walk to Water
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The Boy in the Striped Pajamas
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List 7
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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:
Feyenoord's general manager Robert Eenhoorn said he "cannot be happy" with their 5-2 victory in Leeuwarden, adding "frustration prevails too much for that".
From BBC ● Aug. 24, 2026
On fourth and 10, sophomore Kuika Moaalii ends St. John Bosco frustration with TD catch to start third quarter.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026
These “ghost jobs” have been a longtime source of frustration and anguish for people slogging through an increasingly anonymous and impersonal job-search process.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 21, 2026
You are walking a line, knowing that you cannot keep trying to control what someone else does or doesn’t do, but also not allowing an experience of loss and frustration to control you.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 21, 2026
My frustration mixes with the ground beneath me.
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
Red Bull have had a difficult 2026 so far - Verstappen is yet to win a race, and has repeatedly voiced his frustrations about the car's performance.
From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026
Kyle Tucker was given Saturday off amid his frustrations at the plate, where he’s hitting .192 at home compared to .275 on the road.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 16, 2026
But Guessos said that young people in the country lacked places "where they can express their frustrations, defend their rights and take part".
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Americans with similar economic frustrations move in opposite directions.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
The fight between Loli Regalado and Ester Ugarte is an excuse for everyone to unleash frustrations at family members, neighbors, the system, their lives.
From "Dreaming in Cuban" by Cristina García
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.
