frustrated

13 synonyms and 4 antonyms for frustrated, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Adjective — Annoyed and discouraged because you cannot do or get what you want.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

disappointed blocked

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

annoyed irritated discouraged defeated

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

exasperated fed up discomfited foiled thwarted unfulfilled would-be

Synonyms by Meaning

1. adjective

Annoyed and discouraged because you cannot do or get what you want.

“She was getting frustrated with the printer.”

annoyed exasperated irritated discouraged fed up disappointed discomfited foiled defeated thwarted

Opposites

satisfied content pleased

2. adjective

Prevented from succeeding; blocked or thwarted.

“A frustrated attempt to reach the summit before nightfall.”

thwarted foiled blocked

Opposites

successful

3. adjective

Unable to follow the career or life you wanted; used before a noun to describe what somebody wishes they were.

“He is a frustrated novelist who ended up in advertising.”

unfulfilled would-be

How to use frustrated

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

frustrated with frustrated by increasingly frustrated a frustrated sigh get frustrated

Neutral — equally at home in everyday speech and in writing.

Etymology

The past participle of "frustrate," which came into English in the fifteenth century from Latin "frustrat-," the past-participial stem of "frustrari" (to disappoint or deceive), itself from "frustra," meaning "in vain."

Full origin of frustrated →

Frequently asked questions

What is the difference between frustrated and frustrating?

You are frustrated; the thing is frustrating. "Frustrated" describes how a person feels, and "frustrating" describes what causes the feeling — so "I was frustrated by the frustrating instructions." Saying "I am frustrating" means you are the one annoying everybody else.

Is it frustrated with, frustrated by, or frustrated at?

All three are correct, with a slight difference in feel. "Frustrated with" is usual for people and ongoing situations ("frustrated with my boss"). "Frustrated by" points at the specific cause ("frustrated by the delay"). "Frustrated at" is less common and usually attaches to a situation rather than a person.

What does it mean to call someone a frustrated actor?

It means they wanted to be an actor and never became one. Used before a noun, "frustrated" describes an ambition that was never fulfilled, so a "frustrated actor" is not an actor who is annoyed — it is somebody in another job entirely who wishes they had made it on the stage.

Is frustrated a feeling or an emotion?

Frustration is generally treated as an emotional state rather than a basic emotion. It arises specifically when something blocks a goal, which is what separates it from plain anger or sadness — there is always an obstacle involved.

People also searched

content successful pleased disappointed satisfied blocked defeated annoyed discouraged irritated thwarted fed up

Nearby words

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