frustration

American  

[fruh-stray-shuhn] / frʌˈstreɪ ʃən /

noun

• frustrations
  plural

1. act of frustrating; state of being frustrated.

   the frustration of the president's efforts.

2. an instance of being 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.

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frustration British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• nonfrustration
  noun
• overfrustration
  noun

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• frustrations
  plural

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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

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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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

frustration frustrations

Holmes remarks that she hadn’t thought about it until now, and the tension lifts as her frustration dissipates.

From Salon ● Oct. 17, 2026

In a recent interview with The Times, Bass signaled her frustration with the slow pace of change within the LAPD.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 16, 2026

The growing public frustration in Malaysia but also neighbouring Singapore, which has topped global major city pollution rankings in recent days, is pressuring governments, said Chin.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

There had been rumblings of frustration in criminal justice circles over policing, for which Mamdani has largely retained the status quo in New York.

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

When he realized his mistake, he could barely look at the board, turning his head away several times in humiliation and frustration.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

But his frustrations are shared by his teachers, including Fatoumata Danso, 30, who has taught economic and social sciences at the Eugene Henaff high school for five years.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

“All of these frustrations that people have had for a while exploded.”

From Slate ● Oct. 15, 2026

Peñalosa’s frustrations go a long way to explaining why she and more than 50,000 California ride-share drivers recently signed cards to join the newly formed California Gig Workers Union.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 10, 2026

A 3-1 victory is a pleasing result, but given the gulf in class, Wiegman admitted frustrations at not keeping a clean sheet.

From BBC ● Oct. 9, 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

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Related Words

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

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