frustration

[ fruh-strey-shuh n ]

/ frʌˈstreɪ ʃən /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR frustration ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

act of frustrating; state of being frustrated: the frustration of the president's efforts.

an instance of being frustrated: to experience a series of frustrations before completing a project.

something that frustrates, as an unresolved problem.

a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems.

Nearby words

Origin of frustration

1425–75; late Middle English frustracioun < Latin frustrātiōn- (stem of frustrātiō) deception, disappointment. See frustrate, -ion

Related formsnon·frus·tra·tion, nouno·ver·frus·tra·tion, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for frustration

After some animated debate at the conference, Lelaie declared, with some frustration, “If you push on the stick, you will fly.”
Flight 8501 Poses Question: Are Modern Jets Too Automated to Fly?|Clive Irving|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
He also posted the results of the interactions that usually ended in frustration, but on rare successes, began with “DATE!”
School Shooters Love This Pickup Artist Website|Brandy Zadrozny|December 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Cook walked more slowly than most, stopping to engage with passersby who expressed their own frustration and support.
‘They Let Him Off?’ Scenes from NYC in Disbelief|Jacob Siegel|December 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Adding to the frustration is that it's rare that the police will be charged with a crime when they kill unarmed people.
Arabs Are the Michael Browns of Israel|Dean Obeidallah|December 3, 2014|DAILY BEAST

Verdict leaves supporters cheering and opponents gnashing their teeth in frustration.
Mubarak’s Acquittal Signals Complete Triumph of Military Over Arab Spring|Jamie Dettmer|November 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Over and over again Shelley's song gives us both the fugitive glimpses and the mystery of frustration.
Shelley|Sydney Waterlow
He saw the girl through a haze of anger, frustration, and desire.
Quest of the Golden Ape|Ivar Jorgensen
At the same time there was a certain feeling of frustration within him, a feeling of keen disappointment.
Dave Dawson with the Commandos|R. Sidney Bowen
He took up Gavans book, while the sense of frustration, and of rebellion against it, rose in him.
The Shadow of Life|Anne Douglas Sedgwick
All we can do there is exist in frustration and boredom; kept alive whether we want to be or not.
Accidental Flight|Floyd L. Wallace

British Dictionary definitions for frustration

frustration

/ (frʌˈstreɪʃən) /

noun

the condition of being frustrated

something that frustrates

psychol

the prevention or hindering of a potentially satisfying activity
the emotional reaction to such prevention that may involve aggression

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

Word Origin and History for frustration

frustration

"act of frustrating," 1550s, from Latin frustrationem (nominative frustratio) "a deception, a disappointment," noun of action from past participle stem of frustrari (see frustrate). Earlier (mid-15c.) with a sense of "nullification."

Medicine definitions for frustration

frustration

[ frŭ-strā′shən ]

n.

The condition that results when an impulse or an action is thwarted by an external or an internal force.

The blocking or thwarting of an impulse, purpose, or action.

frustration

noun

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Origin of frustration

Examples from the Web for frustration

frustration

noun

frustration

frustration

n.