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

His insistence on a raise, while CSX shares fell, frustrated directors this spring. —Rohan Goswami, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2025

Over the past several weeks, a handful of frustrated pet owners were able to retrieve the bodies of their pets from Angel Paws with the help of sheriff’s deputies and others. —Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 19 Oct. 2025

A number of Liverpool players looked frustrated after the goal while head coach Slot appeared to be complaining about the decision to play on with fourth official Craig Pawson on the touchline. —Carl Anka, New York Times, 19 Oct. 2025

Another shared a video of the clearly frustrated audience after the lights came on. —Glenn Garner, Deadline, 19 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