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

This is something understandably frustrated fans have been chirping about for years. —Troy Renck, Denver Post, 10 Apr. 2026

Elizabeth Banks is Lindy Littlejohn, a seriously frustrated writer, unhappily if tumultuously married to Les (Matthew Macfadyen), a brilliant scientist. —Stephen Schaefer, Boston Herald, 9 Apr. 2026

But for everything Gates said that might appeal to a frustrated Democrat like me, his Huntington Beach braggadocio continually won out. —Gustavo Arellano, Los Angeles Times, 9 Apr. 2026

The new law, which passed on April 1 and goes into effect on July 1, comes after frustrated Idaho sportsmen complained of out-of-staters abusing the relatively short requirements. —Natalie Krebs, Outdoor Life, 9 Apr. 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