Synonym Chooser

How does the verb frustrate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of frustrate are baffle, balk, foil, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is baffle a more appropriate choice than frustrate?

The words baffle and frustrate can be used in similar contexts, but baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When could balk be used to replace frustrate?

In some situations, the words balk and frustrate are roughly equivalent. However, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When might foil be a better fit than frustrate?

The words foil and frustrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

In what contexts can thwart take the place of frustrate?

The meanings of thwart and frustrate largely overlap; however, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of frustrate Maduro’s junior officers must be nothing if not frustrated. Quico Toro, The Atlantic, 4 Nov. 2025 The Senate filibuster rule, which tends to frustrate the party in the majority and is preferred by the minority party, requires 60 senators to support ending debate in the chamber so that a vote on the measure in question can be held. Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 4 Nov. 2025 Through trial and error, the two were frustrated to discover that there wasn't a lot that worked for them out there. Angela Andaloro, PEOPLE, 4 Nov. 2025 The unpredictable flight schedule has frustrated travelers. Mirna Alsharif, NBC news, 3 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frustrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frustrate
Verb
  • Will Baltimore manage to thwart a Vikings rushing attack that gashed the Lions for 142 yards, cause McCarthy to assume a heavier load than Minnesota’s coaches would like and force the first-year starter into youthful mistakes?
    Mike Jones, New York Times, 9 Nov. 2025
  • But with the teams back to even strength a short time later, Kirill Kaprizov got loose in the middle of the offensive zone and made a rush to the net that was thwarted.
    Jess Myers, Twin Cities, 7 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Nicknames were discouraged but inevitable.
    Ava Kofman, New Yorker, 3 Nov. 2025
  • The initiative also coincides with the $100,000 H-1B application fee, introduced September 21, two days after the DOL announcement—a White House move aimed at discouraging bulk filings by staffing and outsourcing firms.
    Robert Alexander, MSNBC Newsweek, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • Damage to the blood-brain barrier leads to inflammation within the brain and hampers the clearance of waste products like beta-amyloid protein (seen in Alzheimer's disease).
    Colleen Doherty, Verywell Health, 6 Nov. 2025
  • All of these issues combined have left Target with a workforce that has grown faster than sales and a complex corporate structure that has hampered decision-making and created needless red tape.
    Gabrielle Fonrouge,Annie Palmer,Frank Holland, CNBC, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • As if dark energy weren't already mysterious and baffling enough, new research suggests that this unknown force may not be driving galaxies apart at an accelerating rate anymore.
    Robert Lea, Space.com, 6 Nov. 2025
  • Played for comic relief, he is baffled by this son of his who attends college and, more perplexing yet, is suddenly obsessed with Italy and cycling.
    Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Yet, challenges such as battery weight, regulation, safety, and scalability still hinder most projects.
    Kaif Shaikh, Interesting Engineering, 4 Nov. 2025
  • Did the leaks hinder your creative approach to making music?
    Mackenzie Cummings-Grady, Billboard, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Neither tug was blatant, but both seemed to impede Allende.
    Henry Bushnell, New York Times, 2 Nov. 2025
  • Three people with knowledge of those interests said there was consternation among insiders that forcing Maduro out could foment chaos and unrest and impede their access.
    Cybele Mayes-Osterman, USA Today, 30 Oct. 2025
Verb
  • The Heat, which was out-rebounded 61-38 in Wednesday’s loss in Denver, has had particular difficulty preventing teams from rebounding their own miss.
    Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 8 Nov. 2025
  • When in a group, space out to prevent the current from transferring between individuals.
    NC Weather Bot, Charlotte Observer, 8 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Pelosi retires and Dems begin generational civil war Nancy Pelosi, 85, announced her retirement yesterday as a new generation of much younger Democrats bridles against the elderly cadre under former President Biden, 82, who led them to defeat in the last presidential election.
    Geoff Colvin, Fortune, 7 Nov. 2025
  • He and Democrat Rebecca Cooke may be headed for a rematch in 2026, after Van Orden defeated Cooke in 2024.
    Molly Beck, jsonline.com, 7 Nov. 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Frustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frustrate. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.

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