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:
He did, however, give Tucker a day off Saturday, saying he saw Tucker’s frustration as he continued to struggle offensively at Dodger Stadium.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 19, 2026
Sonders: There is no cookie-cutter answer for all investors, and that frustration I have with cookie-cutter answers is worth explaining.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 17, 2026
The protests, which culminated in the resignation last month of education minister Dharmendra Pradhan, exposed deep frustration among young Indians over access to jobs and educational opportunities.
From Barron's ● Aug. 15, 2026
Mehta’s frustration is shared by many of the millions of unemployed young people across India.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 15, 2026
As she wandered in hungry frustration trying to find the shelter and supplies of the Rodina, she fell into the icy water of a swamp and became soaked.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Parsons explained that the extra cost was being reinvested back into the stadium to increase the fan experience but said he appreciated people's frustrations.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Flight delays, interminable waits on the tarmac—Booking.com CEO Glenn Fogel knows all about travel frustrations firsthand: “You can’t believe you even bothered.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 14, 2026
But John knows he doesn’t have the luxury to reveal his frustrations.
From Salon ● Aug. 14, 2026
Harris-Dawson, who did not attend the meeting, responded to the community’s frustrations in an email to The LA Local.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
For three or four minutes I had a name, and the duties and joys and frustrations a man carries with him like a comet’s tail.
From "Travels with Charley in Search of America" by John Steinbeck
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.
