frustrated

adjective

frus·​trat·​ed ˈfrə-ˌstrā-təd 

: feeling, showing, or characterized by frustration: such as

a

: feeling discouragement, anger, and annoyance because of unresolved problems or unfulfilled goals, desires, or needs

In fact Harry thought his behavior had been very good considering how frustrated and angry he felt at being stuck in Privet Drive this long …

—J. K. Rowling

b

: having an ambition that has not been realized

a frustrated actor [=a person who wants to be an actor but has not succeeded in becoming one]

Over the past decade, however, advances in digital printing technologies have brought the costs of publication down and paved the way for thousands of frustrated writers to get their work into print.

—Robert K. J. Killheffer

Examples of frustrated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

It’s been reported that A24, which had slated the film for 2024, grew frustrated and quietly withdrew from distributing the film. —Chris O'Falt, IndieWire, 26 Nov. 2025

That explanation left her feeling dismissed and frustrated. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 25 Nov. 2025

While some Republicans in Congress have become more frustrated with the president, polls don’t suggest that has translated to Republican voters. —Andrew Stanton, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Nov. 2025

According to Weidenmuller, Minaj became visibly frustrated and blamed the female guard for allowing a fan to breach a barricade and climb on stage with her. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 24 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1574, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frustrated

• abated
• ablated
• awaited
• belated
• berated
• castrated
• chelated
• citrated
• collated
• conflated
• created
• curated

Medical Definition

frustrated

adjective

frus·​trat·​ed

: filled with a sense of frustration : feeling deep insecurity, discouragement, or dissatisfaction

learned not to resort to aggressiveness when frustrated

—Ashley Montagu