Dictionary.com
Thesaurus.com
Showing results for "frustrated"
Search instead for rusty-red.
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.

Keep Reading on Vocabulary.com

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.

See Examples For:

The poor guy couldn’t sleep more than two hours at a time, turning me into a frustrated insomniac.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 28, 2026

When Olympic tickets went on sale in April, fans were shocked and frustrated at high prices, a 24% service fee and limited availability for key events.

From Los Angeles Times Jul. 28, 2026

The new approach comes as Arnault has grown increasingly frustrated with how he and his family are being portrayed.

From The Wall Street Journal Jul. 27, 2026

Jones, a wheelchair user, was frustrated by the lack of Blue Badge parking information when trying to attend London City's away trip to Tottenham Hotspur.

From BBC Jul. 24, 2026

He wondered if his parents ever got as frustrated by it as he did.

From "Earthquake Terror" by Peg Kehret

Vocabulary.com logo
by dictionary.com

Dictionary.com's Learning Companion

Go beyond just looking up words.
Remember them forever with VocabTrainer.

Start training