verb
frustrate
fruh-STRAYT
verb
1
To prevent someone from achieving something, causing annoyance or disappointment.
"Bad weather frustrated their plans for a picnic."
"She was frustrated by the constant delays at work."
2
To block or defeat a plan or effort.
"The defense frustrated every attack the other team tried."
How to Use Frustrate
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo stop someone from succeeding, in a way that makes them annoyed or disappointed.
Common pairings
frustrate an attempt
frustrate someone's plans
feel frustrated
Word Forms
more frustrate comparative, frustrated past tense, frustrates singular, most frustrate superlative
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Bad weather _____ their plans for a picnic.
Etymology
From Latin frūstrō, "to deceive, disappoint," via Middle English frustraten.