frus·trate
ˈfrə-ˌstrāt 
frustrated; frustrating
1
a
: to balk or defeat in an endeavor
frustrated her opponents by her ball-handling
b
: to induce feelings of discouragement in
Not being able to find a job frustrated him.
: characterized by frustration
Synonyms
Examples of frustrate in a Sentence
Verb
It frustrated him to miss so many games because of injuries.
We've been frustrated by bureaucratic delays.
Bureaucratic delays have frustrated our efforts to resolve this problem.
The lack of investors has frustrated them in their efforts to expand the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Senate Republicans, frustrated by this norm-breaking obstruction, threatened during George W. Bush’s presidency to end the filibuster for judges.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Now the Bruin Faithful will see what’s really important to Jarmond: a wealthy donor’s opinion or the despair of countless Bruins who don’t bother to attend home games at the Rose Bowl and are continually frustrated with a clueless coach.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Also in October, apparently frustrated by the long regulatory process, senior SpaceX officials, including William Gerstenmaier, the company’s vice president for build and flight reliability, conducted rare media interviews arguing that regulators aren’t keeping up with the pace of industry.
—WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023
Trump and his lawyers have been increasingly frustrated with Engoron presiding over the non-jury trial in James' lawsuit.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 17 Nov. 2023
Miller later acknowledged to authorities that he had been frustrated with how Graber had taught her Spanish class and how his GPA had suffered as a result.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023
People can grow frustrated with the traits expected of them—or of their siblings.
—Sarah Sloat, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2023
The formidable task was frustrated by the telescope’s exquisite sensitivity: Many of the faint objects typically used as landmarks blinded JWST’s ultra-sensitive eye.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
Tom Murphy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
In refusing to tie up loose ends or even explain exactly what our protagonists are up against, the writer-director doesn’t frustrate expectations so much as whet appetite for future installments where those concerns will presumably be addressed.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 5 Oct. 2023
Home prices rose in July as low supply continued to frustrate buyers.
—Nicole Friedman, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2023
That imperative meant using the United Kingdom’s wealth and manpower to build coalitions with like-minded states to frustrate would-be European hegemons.
—David Reynolds, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2020
But Rydin points out that employees have concerns, too, including reduced availability, longer response times may frustrate clients and difficulty adapting to changes at work.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 5 May 2023
Last month, the National Labor Relations Board issued five complaints against Amazon, one dealing with Bessemer, for a rule that union activists interpreted as a way to frustrate organizing activity.
—William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 6 June 2023
Some experts also hope that the same cheap solar panels and batteries that frustrate U.S. trade policymakers can be used to help less-resourced nations go green.
—Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 30 May 2023
Avoid using jargon or complex language that may confuse or frustrate users.
—Yec, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023
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Verb
Those groups tend to be hit hardest by inflation, which has yet to return to 2020 levels, and high interest rates, which have frustrated first-time home buyers and drained the finances of those dependent on credit.
—Lydia Depillis, New York Times, 28 Nov. 2023
Senate Republicans, frustrated by this norm-breaking obstruction, threatened during George W. Bush’s presidency to end the filibuster for judges.
—The Editors, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Now the Bruin Faithful will see what’s really important to Jarmond: a wealthy donor’s opinion or the despair of countless Bruins who don’t bother to attend home games at the Rose Bowl and are continually frustrated with a clueless coach.
—Los Angeles Times, 18 Nov. 2023
Also in October, apparently frustrated by the long regulatory process, senior SpaceX officials, including William Gerstenmaier, the company’s vice president for build and flight reliability, conducted rare media interviews arguing that regulators aren’t keeping up with the pace of industry.
—WIRED, 18 Nov. 2023
Trump and his lawyers have been increasingly frustrated with Engoron presiding over the non-jury trial in James' lawsuit.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 17 Nov. 2023
Miller later acknowledged to authorities that he had been frustrated with how Graber had taught her Spanish class and how his GPA had suffered as a result.
—Timothy Bella, Washington Post, 16 Nov. 2023
People can grow frustrated with the traits expected of them—or of their siblings.
—Sarah Sloat, The Atlantic, 14 Nov. 2023
The formidable task was frustrated by the telescope’s exquisite sensitivity: Many of the faint objects typically used as landmarks blinded JWST’s ultra-sensitive eye.
—Quanta Magazine, 13 Nov. 2023
Adjective
Drugstores also have been dealing with several issues that frustrate customers.
—Tom Murphy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
In refusing to tie up loose ends or even explain exactly what our protagonists are up against, the writer-director doesn’t frustrate expectations so much as whet appetite for future installments where those concerns will presumably be addressed.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 5 Oct. 2023
Home prices rose in July as low supply continued to frustrate buyers.
—Nicole Friedman, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2023
That imperative meant using the United Kingdom’s wealth and manpower to build coalitions with like-minded states to frustrate would-be European hegemons.
—David Reynolds, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2020
But Rydin points out that employees have concerns, too, including reduced availability, longer response times may frustrate clients and difficulty adapting to changes at work.
—Bryan Robinson, Forbes, 5 May 2023
Last month, the National Labor Relations Board issued five complaints against Amazon, one dealing with Bessemer, for a rule that union activists interpreted as a way to frustrate organizing activity.
—William Thornton | Wthornton@al.com, al, 6 June 2023
Some experts also hope that the same cheap solar panels and batteries that frustrate U.S. trade policymakers can be used to help less-resourced nations go green.
—Christian Shepherd, Washington Post, 30 May 2023
Avoid using jargon or complex language that may confuse or frustrate users.
—Yec, Forbes, 18 Apr. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frustrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Verb and Adjective
Middle English, from Latin frustratus, past participle of frustrare to deceive, frustrate, from frustra in error, in vain
First Known Use
Verb
15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a
Adjective
15th century, in the meaning defined above
Time Traveler
The first known use of frustrate was
in the 15th century
Dictionary Entries Near frustrate
Cite this Entry
“Frustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frustrate. Accessed 10 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
frustrate
verb
frus·trate
ˈfrəs-ˌtrāt
frustrated; frustrating
1
: to prevent from carrying out a purpose
tried to frustrate his opponents in their efforts
2
: to bring to nothing
the accident frustrated the plan
Medical Definition
frustrate
transitive verb
frus·trate
ˈfrəs-ˌtrāt
frustrated; frustrating
: to induce feelings of frustration in
Legal Definition
frustrate
transitive verb
frus·trate
ˈfrəs-ˌtrāt
frustrated; frustrating
: to make invalid or ineffectual : defeat
the remedial purposes of the Workers' Compensation Act should not be frustrated by rigid technical standards—Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corp., 559 A.2d 340 (1989)
Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corp., 559 A.2d 340 (1989)
More from Merriam-Webster on frustrate
Nglish: Translation of frustrate for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of frustrate for Arabic Speakers
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