frustration
Americannoun
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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.
Frustration flared up throughout the match, with both teams briefly crowding the sideline after a hard foul.
From Los Angeles Times • Jul. 1, 2026
Frustration is simmering among parents who say their young children are spending too much classroom time online, disrupting their learning and development at a critical time and clashing with stricter screen restrictions at home.
From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 19, 2026
Frustration boiled over in September when Rajesh Yabaji, CEO of digital trucking logistics platform BlackBuck, announced he was moving his company out of ORR.
From Barron's • Nov. 27, 2025
"And it wasn't really going like that, I was touring clubs, not breaking through. I was struggling, with work, life, my identity. I couldn't find my place. Frustration fuelled the song."
From BBC • Nov. 24, 2025
Frustration crawled through her like an army of termites.
From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan
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.
