Synonyms of frustrating

frustrating 1 of 2

adjective

ˈfrə-ˌstrā-tiŋ 

as in annoying

causing annoyance

these daily traffic jams are frustrating

Synonyms & Similar Words

• annoying
• irritating
• disturbing
• aggravating
• exasperating
• maddening
• irksome
• vexing
• painful
• bothersome
• vexatious
• abrasive
• pesky
• nettlesome
• galling
• pestilential
• infuriating
• pestiferous
• stressful
• troubling
• distractive
• peeving
• troublesome
• nettling
• rebarbative
• pesty
• plaguey
• chafing
• rankling
• carking
• pestilent
• riling
• upsetting
• burdensome
• distressing
• displeasing
• discomforting
• disquieting
• mischievous
• tiresome
• importunate
• biting
• offensive
• enraging
• worrisome
• trying
• angering
• inconveniencing
• jarring
• thorny
• importune
• bratty
• grating
• spiny
• brattish
• jangling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• delightful
• pleasing

frustrating

2 of 2

verb

present participle of frustrate

1

as in baffling

to prevent from achieving a goal

a multitude of conflicting opinions frustrated me in my attempt to find a computer that best suits my needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

• baffling
• hampering
• thwarting
• balking
• hindering
• preventing
• discomfiting
• defeating
• stopping
• impeding
• overcoming
• foiling
• beating
• halting
• blocking
• obstructing
• checkmating
• handicapping
• stalling
• interfering (with)
• inhibiting
• arresting
• checking
• clogging
• encumbering
• barring
• hobbling
• holding back
• tying up
• precluding
• obviating
• forestalling
• negating
• conquering
• neutralizing
• nullifying
• manacling
• averting
• offsetting
• counteracting
• shackling
• fettering
• short-circuiting
• setting back
• trammeling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouraging
• promoting
• advancing
• assisting
• furthering
• fostering
• forwarding
• cultivating
• aiding
• facilitating
• nurturing
• abetting
• smoothing
• easing

2

as in discouraging

to lessen the courage or confidence of

challenge the math student, but don't frustrate him or her with overly difficult problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

• discouraging
• daunting
• disheartening
• intimidating
• unnerving
• frightening
• dispiriting
• demoralizing
• dismaying
• troubling
• horrifying
• worrying
• bothering
• scaring
• distressing
• chilling
• trying
• afflicting
• saddening
• throwing cold water on
• depressing
• unmanning
• bullying
• weighing
• debilitating
• vexing
• browbeating
• undermining
• deadening
• weakening
• irking
• cowing
• damping
• dampening
• enfeebling

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• encouraging
• cheering
• invigorating
• exciting
• reinforcing
• enforcing
• heartening
• nerving
• enlivening
• reassuring
• emboldening
• animating
• strengthening
• assuring
• gladdening
• stimulating
• steeling
• inspiring
• stirring
• buoying (up)
• fortifying
• provoking
• energizing
• lifting
• galvanizing
• quickening
• rallying
• boosting

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of frustrating

Adjective

Specialized work rarely offers instant gratification, and the people who succeed are usually those who can remain focused through the frustrating early stages of learning. — Matthew Darienzo, Forbes.com, 14 Sep. 2026

Aina emphasized the importance of color in influencing moods and self-perception and aims to bring joy to people in a sometimes-frustrating world through the use of the sun and sunflower motifs. — Stephen Garner, Footwear News, 13 Sep. 2026

Verb

But Algo’s hyper-logical, computerised process of consistently picking the favourites to win was undone in the second match of the day, with Ghana frustrating England in a 0-0 draw. — The Athletic Soccer Experts, New York Times, 24 June 2026

The documentary’s contradiction is right there, enthralling us with the wild achievements Potter pulled off and frustrating us with his bombast, leading us to ponder whether, as The Dark Wizard suggests, either could exist without the other. — Roxana Hadadi, Vulture, 7 May 2026