frustrating

adjective

frus·​trat·​ing ˈfrə-ˌstrā-tiŋ 

: causing feelings of anger and annoyance : tending to produce or characterized by frustration

a frustrating delay

a very frustrating experience

Mischel concludes that having the willpower to wait isn't about being stoic. It's about learning techniques that make waiting less frustrating.

—Pamela Druckerman

frustratingly adverb

a frustratingly slow process

The book is sprawling and self-indulgent. Most frustratingly, it is almost entirely devoid of serious military analysis.

—Hew Strachan

Synonyms of frustrating

• annoying
• irritating
• disturbing

Examples of frustrating in a Sentence

All these delays have been very frustrating.

these daily traffic jams are frustrating

Recent Examples on the Web

No longer being completely bound to a relaxer, these four women began navigating the fun, at times frustrating, terrain of natural hair care. —Annie Blay-Tettey, Allure, 29 May 2026

When to See a Doctor For the vast majority of new parents, dry skin is a temporary, frustrating nuisance that resolves as your hormones stabilize and your body adjusts to its new rhythm. —Lauren Brown West-Rosenthal, Parents, 28 May 2026

With two weeks to go until the World Cup, more cities and towns in Massachusetts are getting the green light from FIFA to host watch parties after what's been a frustrating ordeal for some. —Neal Riley, CBS News, 28 May 2026

Its closure has driven up gas prices, frustrating American consumers. —Zac Anderson, USA Today, 28 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frustrating

• abating
• awaiting
• berating
• castrating
• chelating
• collating
• conflating
• creating
• debating
• deflating
• derating
• dictating

Kids Definition

frustrating

adjective

: producing frustration

a frustrating delay

frustratingly adverb