frustration

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noun frus·tra·tion \ (ˌ)frə-ˈstrā-shən \

Definition of frustration

1 :the act of frustrating

the frustration of creative instinct is a notorious evil of the machine age
—The Times Literary Supplement (London)

2 a :the state or an instance of being frustrated

These bureaucratic delays have been causing us a lot of frustration.

b :a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs

loneliness and frustration; those are two constant themes in American literature
—Malcolm Cowley

3 :something that frustrates

the government's frustrations with seemingly insoluble problems

See frustration defined for English-language learners

See frustration defined for kids

Examples of frustration in a Sentence

He shook his head in frustration.
These bureaucratic delays have been causing us a lot of frustration.
These delays have proven to be a major frustration.
We've been experiencing a lot of frustrations.
He was angry about the frustration of his plans.

Recent Examples of frustration from the Web

Students, who were each allotted two minutes to speak at the microphone, spoke up about frustration with university response and about a general uneasiness.

— susannah hutcheson, USA TODAY College, "Campus news of the week: Trump admin resignation, offensive frat party and more," 26 Aug. 2017
More: Lavert Hill aside, Michigan's CBs cause coaches frustrationOverall, the Wolverines came in at No.

— nick baumgardner, Detroit Free Press, "Voters ranked Michigan as high as No. 6, as low as No. 18 in AP Top 25," 21 Aug. 2017
Mr. Trump offered little pushback, according to a person familiar with the conversation, and vented his frustrations about Mr. Bannon.

— michael arceneaux, The Root, "After Getting The Boot, Bannon Wants To Go To War? Great, Let Them Hoes Fight," 18 Aug. 2017
As state Sen. J.P. Morrell, D-New Orleans, has watched the New Orleans Sewerage & Water Board endure withering accusations of being asleep at the switch as the city's drainage system crumbled, his frustration has grown.

— richard rainey, NOLA.com, "City Council 'didn't care until everything went south' at S&WB: J.P. Morrell," 17 Aug. 2017
The current situation rises out of the frustration of many white people that Obama proves that many blacks can and do succeed well beyond the capabilities of many white people.

— Howard County Times, "Racial divisions, animosity remain on full display [Letter]," 17 Aug. 2017
Cowboys executive vice president Stephen Jones also expressed frustration earlier this week with the length of the investigation, which is going into its 13th month.

— drew davison, star-telegram, "‘No update’ as NFL's investigation of Ezekiel Elliott lingers on," 10 Aug. 2017
After months of frustration over China's reluctance to pressure Pyongyang economically, the US on Saturday secured a unanimous United Nations Security Council vote to authorize sweeping new sanctions that target one-third of the North's exports.

— josh lederman, The Christian Science Monitor, "Despite rhetoric from Trump, Tillerson reassures on North Korea threat," 9 Aug. 2017
People at Wednesday's protest, however, expressed their frustration with the environmental landscape in East Chicago citing the high levels of lead and arsenic in the soil at the U.S.S Lead Superfund site.

— javonte anderson, Post-Tribune, "Activists urge U.S. rep to help block dumping of toxic material in East Chicago," 26 July 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'frustration.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

First Known Use of frustration

circa 1555

frustration Synonyms

Synonyms

aggravation, aggro [British], bother, botheration, bugbear, exasperation, annoyance, hair shirt, hassle, headache, inconvenience, irk, irritant, nuisance, peeve, pest, rub, ruffle, thorn, trial, vexation

Antonyms

content, contentedness, contentment, gratification, satisfaction

Related Words

discomfort, fleabite, pinprick; affront, insult, offense (or offence); upset, worry; affliction, albatross, burden, cross, curse, menace, millstone, plague, sore; anxiety, plight, predicament, tribulation, trouble; hang-up, pet peeve, problem; annoyer, disturber, harasser, mischief, offender; pandora's box

Near Antonyms

delight, joy, pleasure

Other Psychology Terms

fetish, hypochondria, intelligence, mania, narcissism, neurosis, pathological, psychosis, schadenfreude, subliminal

FRUSTRATION Defined for English Language Learners

frustration

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noun

Definition of frustration for English Language Learners

: a feeling of anger or annoyance caused by being unable to do something : the state of being frustrated
: something that causes feelings of anger and annoyance
: the fact of being prevented from succeeding or doing something

FRUSTRATION Defined for Kids

frustration

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noun frus·tra·tion \ ˌfrə-ˈstrā-shən \

Definition of frustration for Students

:disappointment 1, defeat

Medical Dictionary

frustration

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noun frus·tra·tion \ (ˌ)frəs-ˈtrā-shən \

medical Definition of frustration

1 :a deep chronic sense or state of insecurity and dissatisfaction arising from unresolved problems or unfulfilled needs

2 :something that frustrates

Law Dictionary

frustration

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noun frus·tra·tion \ ˌfrəs-ˈtrā-shən \

legal Definition of frustration

1 a :the act of frustrating

b :the state or an instance of being frustrated

c :something that frustrates

2 :a common-law doctrine of contract law: parties to a contract may be excused from performance even though performance is still possible if the reason for making the contract is partially or completely frustrated by a fortuitous event or by circumstances which are not the fault of either party — called also frustration of purpose, frustration of the venture; compare cause 4, force majeure clause, impossibility, impracticability

Note: In order for frustration to be used as a successful defense to a breach of contract claim, the reason for making the contract must have been contemplated or recognized by both the contracting parties even though it was not expressed in the contract.