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

Season 12 of Below Deck went down as one of the most frustrating in the franchise’s history. — Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026

The lack of production with so much talent has been frustrating. — Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 12 Oct. 2026

Disappointingly, her screenplay proceeds to unfold in a procession of frustrating get-outs and compromises, repeatedly choosing the least interesting or challenging direction to take this would-be throuple. — Guy Lodge, Variety, 11 Oct. 2026

As a pop culture reporter who has spent a dozen years covering both Swift’s career and country music, this process was an exciting, frustrating and ultimately illuminating look at the sheer scope of power that Swift wields. — Emily Yahr, Washington Post, 10 Oct. 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