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Synonyms

frustrated

American  
[fruhs-trey-tid] / ˈfrʌs treɪ tɪd /

adjective

  1. disappointed; thwarted.

    an announcer who was a frustrated actor.

  2. having a feeling of or filled with frustration; dissatisfied.

    His unresolved difficulty left him absolutely frustrated.


frustrated British  
/ frʌˈstreɪtɪd /

adjective

  1. having feelings of dissatisfaction or lack of fulfilment

"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

Other Word Forms

Etymology

Origin of frustrated

First recorded in 1635–45; frustrate + -ed 2

Explanation

Frustrated is an adjective that describes feeling disappointed and unsuccessful. If you try to fix your car for hours and hours but it still won't work, you will feel frustrated. People become frustrated when they fail to achieve their goals, both large and small. If you are constantly frustrated, it can build up into anger or bitterness. People sometimes need to vent, or express themselves, when they are very frustrated, in order to let it go. But if you can't shake that frustrated feeling, maybe a change is in order — a new job, different friends, maybe even a cat to remind you that calm is good.

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Vocabulary lists containing frustrated

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.

“When I’m frustrated and my eyes roll and my voice tenses, they feel that,” he said.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 23, 2026

But his impenetrable prose -- used to avoid committing to any particular course -- and his confidence in unfettered markets and institutions to correct themselves frustrated critics, who believed the US economy needed stronger guardrails.

From Barron's • Jun. 22, 2026

Edinburgh Airport said it recognised passengers would be frustrated by the incident but that safety was a priority.

From BBC • Jun. 20, 2026

Dalton Rushing had been frustrated for much of the game, a fact he hadn’t hidden on his trips back to the dugout.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 20, 2026

To make us all feel crushed and frustrated.

From "The Sea in Winter" by Christine Day

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