frustrating

1 of 2

adjective

frus·​trat·​ing ˈfrə-ˌstrā-tiŋ 

: causing feelings of anger and annoyance : tending to produce or characterized by frustration

a frustrating delay

a very frustrating experience

Mischel concludes that having the willpower to wait isn't about being stoic. It's about learning techniques that make waiting less frustrating.

—Pamela Druckerman

frustratingly adverb

a frustratingly slow process

The book is sprawling and self-indulgent. Most frustratingly, it is almost entirely devoid of serious military analysis.

—Hew Strachan

frustrating

2 of 2

present participle of frustrate entry 1

Synonyms of frustrating

Adjective

• annoying
• irritating
• disturbing

Examples of frustrating in a Sentence

Adjective

All these delays have been very frustrating.

these daily traffic jams are frustrating

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

In the meantime, in Iraq, sanctions and no-fly-zone enforcement became increasingly frustrating, costly, and unpopular. — S. C. M. Paine, Foreign Affairs, 3 Nov. 2026

The challenges go beyond just salaries, media attention and funding to things as serious as child care and the rash of ACL injuries in the women’s game and as frustrating as hand-me-down uniforms and locker rooms. — Los Angeles Times, 3 Nov. 2026

Magnetic Dryer Sheet Holder Losing your dryer sheet box in the back of the laundry cabinet can be frustrating and waste time. — Rebecca Jones, Southern Living, 3 Nov. 2026

Making the lack of targets for Pickens more frustrating for Jones is Pickens’ salary. — Ryan Canfield Outkick, FOXNews.com, 3 Nov. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frustrating

• abating
• awaiting
• berating
• castrating
• chelating
• collating
• conflating
• creating
• debating
• deflating
• derating
• dictating

Kids Definition

frustrating

adjective

: producing frustration

a frustrating delay

frustratingly adverb