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

Instead, after entering the third period tied, the Wild got absolutely dominated by the Pittsburgh Penguins to once again disappoint the frustrated home crowd during what has been a miserable start to this 2025-26 campaign. —Michael Russo, New York Times, 31 Oct. 2025

Recently married to a promising academic yet already a frustrated wife, prone to boredom and depression? —David Fear, Rolling Stone, 29 Oct. 2025

The poster was left feeling frustrated and confused. —Ashley Vega, PEOPLE, 29 Oct. 2025

Scales starred as a newlywed, frustrated homemaker settling into domesticity with her office worker husband played by Richard Briers. —Mekishana Pierre, Entertainment Weekly, 28 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1643, 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