frustration

[fruh-strey-shuhn]

noun

1. act of frustrating; state of being frustrated: frustrated.

   the frustration of the president's efforts.

2. an instance of being frustrated: frustrated.

   to experience a series of frustrations before completing a project.

3. something that frustrates, as an unresolved problem.

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

frustration

/ frʌˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. the condition of being frustrated

2. something that frustrates

3. psychol

   1. the prevention or hindering of a potentially satisfying activity

   2. the emotional reaction to such prevention that may involve aggression

Other Word Forms

• nonfrustration noun
• overfrustration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frustration¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English frustracioun, from Latin frustrātiōn-, stem of frustrātiō “deception, disappointment”; equivalent to frustrate + -ion

Example Sentences

The DOT’s account, he added, leaves out the commonplace frustrations shaping the passenger experience today.

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Although the label is itself lighthearted, its popularity points to a rising undercurrent of fatigue and frustration.

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That’s made many people unwilling to deal with extra frustrations —a trend that’s alive and well according to recent travel data.

Read more on Barron's

And yet by September of this year, suggestions of the Treasury's own reported frustrations with the OBR were circulating.

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Despite lingering frustration, some said it almost felt like a celebration.

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Related Words

• annoyance 
• dissatisfaction 
• failure 
• grievance 
• irritation 
• resentment