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

Workers across the nation have called out sick, partially out of protest and also to come up with other ways to make money, that have resulted in long security lines and frustrated passengers. —Phillip Molnar, San Diego Union-Tribune, 26 Mar. 2026

One of them is slapped on the field by a frustrated boy. —Marta Balaga, Variety, 26 Mar. 2026

High absentee rates at some major airports have produced long lines and frustrated passengers at understaffed security checkpoints. —ABC News, 25 Mar. 2026

Some Americans are stranded in the Middle East as the war continues, fearful and frustrated. —Phaedra Trethan, USA Today, 25 Mar. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1574, 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