Definition of frustrate
frustrated
;frustrating
transitive verb
1a : to balk or defeat in an endeavor frustrated her opponents by her ball-handlingb : to induce feelings of discouragement in Not being able to find a job frustrated him.
2a (1) : to make ineffectual : bring to nothing Illness frustrated his plans for college. (2) : impede, obstruct The project was frustrated by government regulations.b : to make invalid or of no effect
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Examples of frustrate in a Sentence
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 of frustrate from the Web
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Suzanne Carmick has been frustrated with the Erickson plan’s unwillingness to pay for most of her mother’s prolonged stay.
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But some of the city’s leading Republicans said they were frustrated with Ms. Hodges’s frequent critiques of President Trump.
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Over the years, I have been frustrated by my inability to work hot steel.
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Frustrated at not receiving a full scholarship offer despite high talent assessments, Barry went into the postseason even more determined than normal.
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Homeless outreach workers were on hand to share information about shelters and other services with street dwellers who were frustrated or confused about what to do next.
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This is frustrating for New Yorkers, and is terrible P.R. for the United States.
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That’s frustrated investors saddled with a drop of nearly 43 percent from the start of 2014 through Thursday, while the rest of the stock market marched 32 percent higher to record heights.
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Fans want to see a course test golfers, not frustrate them beyond belief.
These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frustrate.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Origin and Etymology of frustrate
Middle English, from Latin frustratus, past participle of frustrare to deceive, frustrate, from frustra in error, in vain
Synonym Discussion of frustrate
Origin and Etymology of frustrate
see 1frustrate
FRUSTRATE Defined for English Language Learners
frustrate
playDefinition of frustrate for English Language Learners
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: to cause (someone) to feel angry, discouraged, or upset because of not being able to do something
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: to prevent (efforts, plans, etc.) from succeeding : to keep (someone) from doing something
FRUSTRATE Defined for Kids
frustrate
playDefinition of frustrate for Students
frustrated
;frustrating
1 : to cause to feel angry or discouraged The delays frustrated passengers.
2 : to prevent from succeeding Police frustrated the robbery.
3 : 1defeat 2 The bad weather frustrated their plans for the beach.
Medical Dictionary
frustrate
playMedical Definition of frustrate
frustrated
;frustrating
: to induce feelings of frustration in
Law Dictionary
frustrate
playLegal Definition of frustrate
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)
Learn More about frustrate
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See words that rhyme with frustrate Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for frustrate Spanish Central: Translation of frustrate Nglish: Translation of frustrate for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of frustrate for Arabic speakers
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