frustration

noun

(ˌ)frə-ˈstrā-shən How to pronounce frustration (audio)
Definition of frustrationnext
1
as in headache
something that is a source of irritation bad spelling is a constant frustration to language-arts teachers

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2
as in disappointment
the emotion felt when one's expectations are not met the kids couldn't hide their frustration when they couldn't get the electronic toy to work

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3
as in exasperation
the feeling of impatience or anger caused by another's repeated disagreeable acts the professor's frustration with students who refused to consult the syllabus

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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 frustration There are four of us on staff at The Verge actively testing Googlebooks and, frankly, our internal Slack discussions have been mostly filled with collective venting of frustrations, disappointments, and bewilderment. — Antonio G. Di Benedetto, The Verge, 9 Oct. 2026 Long before then, Basquiat had become a legend, an icon of a decade that fused the liberations of Downtown with the frustrations of Uptown. — Robb Report, 9 Oct. 2026 For customers, the frustration can be as simple as an ordering bot that turns one pizza into two. — Tatiana Sataua, Fortune, 9 Oct. 2026 Monique Lopez, the CEO of United Methodist Outreach Ministries, known as UMOM, which runs the Family Housing Hub and the shelter waitlist, acknowledged the frustrations of people like Vanessa Lopez (no relation). — Nicole Santa Cruz, ProPublica, 9 Oct. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frustration
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frustration
  1. headache
  2. disappointment
  3. exasperation
  4. annoyance
  5. dismay
  6. irritation
  7. nuisance
  8. dissatisfaction
Noun
  • Various parts of the plant have been used in traditional medicine systems such as Ayurveda to treat conditions including headaches, colic, dropsy, rheumatism, nervous agitation, constipation, dyspepsia, and infections of the eye and throat.
    — Encyclopedia Britannica, Encyclopedia Britannica, 9 Oct. 2026
  • The Bruins’ biggest headache could be 6-foot-5 tight end Jamari Johnson, who caught seven passes for 159 yards against USC, particularly with all three of UCLA’s starting cornerbacks shorter than 6 feet.
    — Connor Dullinger, Los Angeles Times, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of headache
Noun
  • To rely on him on a day-to-day basis is to live under conditions of constant disappointment.
    — Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 15 Oct. 2026
  • The trading disappointment comes after CEO Brian Moynihan told analysts last month that trading revenue would be roughly flat; instead the combined bond and stock trading results fell by 5%.
    — Hugh Son, CNBC, 14 Oct. 2026
Definition of disappointment
Noun
  • The tweet ended with an emoji of a man facepalming, conveying Johnson’s exasperation over the last play of Washington’s 27-27 tie with the New York Giants.
    — Steve Henson, Los Angeles Times, 12 Oct. 2026
  • But through a bit of TV fame, and Ramsay’s signature yelling, ranting, exasperation and, in the end, brotherly wisdom, perhaps its restaurant dreams can come true.
    — Eric Adler, Kansas City Star, 1 Oct. 2026
Definition of exasperation
Noun
  • All the women piled into Louisa’s company car are off scrambling for safety in this episode, which leads to some quality bickering between Louisa and Shirley that only their mutual annoyance with Moira can silence.
    — Scott Tobias, Vulture, 7 Oct. 2026
  • The third season sees Ranma and fiancée Akane have to deal with old annoyances, new dangers, and even more shenanigans.
    — K. Thor Jensen, PC Magazine, 2 Oct. 2026
Definition of annoyance
Noun
  • And to my family’s dismay, more good books are being published every week.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 1 Oct. 2026
  • Just like that, months of dismay — and his 0-for-3 start to the afternoon — were forgotten.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 30 Sep. 2026
Definition of dismay
Noun
  • Musk isn’t the sort of guy who’s lets a minor linguistic or chronological irritation get in the way of a grand plan.
    — Jason Barlow, Robb Report, 11 Oct. 2026
  • In some cases, irritation or damage to the surface of the eye can lead to more serious problems.
    — Kelly McGreal, FOXNews.com, 11 Oct. 2026
Definition of irritation
Noun
  • But a big cooler is one guest that can really crash and burn the party – a hard, bulky nuisance that's uncomfortable on or near the bed and unsecure outside the vehicle.
    — New Atlas, New Atlas, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Attorneys for the Bloomfield group have argued that the building behind the Pyles does not create a nuisance.
    — Matthew Adams, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 8 Oct. 2026
Definition of nuisance
Noun
  • The financial squeeze has collided with an increasingly fragmented political system, creating opportunities for parties at both ends of the political spectrum to capitalize on public dissatisfaction.
    — Efrat Lachter, FOXNews.com, 10 Oct. 2026
  • Gen Z is already acting on dissatisfaction, which means the window to build defensible AI practices is closing while adoption curves are still climbing.
    — Lauren Schuster, Charlotte Observer, 9 Oct. 2026
Definition of dissatisfaction

Browse Nearby Words

frustrating
frustration
frustrations
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Cite this Entry

“Frustration.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frustration. Accessed 16 Oct. 2026.

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Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about frustration

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