adjective
Common
frustrating
fruh-STRAY-tihng
Frustrating (adjective) means causing feelings of annoyance or discouragement, often because something is unnecessarily difficult. Example: “Trying to fix the printer for an hour with no result was frustrating.”
adjective
1
Causing feelings of annoyance or discouragement, often because something is unnecessarily difficult.
"Trying to fix the printer for an hour with no result was frustrating."
"It's frustrating when the website crashes right before you submit a form."
"The slow internet connection was frustrating for everyone working from home."
How to use frustrating
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishMaking you feel annoyed or discouraged, usually because of needless difficulty.
Common pairings
a frustrating experience
incredibly frustrating
frustrating delay
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Word forms
- Comparative
- more frustrating
- Superlative
- most frustrating
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Trying to fix the printer for an hour with no result was _____.
Etymology
From frustrate plus the ending -ing.
Synonyms
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Rhymes for frustrating
See all rhymes for frustrating →Frequently asked questions
What does “frustrating” mean?
The word “frustrating” means causing feelings of annoyance or discouragement, often because something is unnecessarily difficult. In plain terms, making you feel annoyed or discouraged, usually because of needless difficulty.
How do you pronounce “frustrating”?
“Frustrating” is pronounced fruh-STRAY-tihng (/ˈfɹʌsˌtɹeɪ̯tɪŋ/ in IPA).
How do you use “frustrating” in a sentence?
Here is “frustrating” used in a sentence: “It's frustrating when the website crashes right before you submit a form.”
What part of speech is “frustrating”?
“Frustrating” is an adjective.
Is “frustrating” a common word?
“Frustrating” is a fairly common word in modern English.
What is the difference between "frustrating" and "frustrated"?
"Frustrating" describes something that causes annoyance, as in "a frustrating delay," while "frustrated" describes the person who feels that annoyance, as in "I was frustrated." The situation is frustrating; the person is frustrated.
What is the difference between "frustrating" and "annoying"?
Both describe things that bother you, but "frustrating" specifically suggests being blocked or thwarted, often because something is unnecessarily difficult, while "annoying" is broader and covers any minor irritation. A slow website is annoying; being unable to finish a task because of it is frustrating.
What nouns commonly follow "frustrating"?
"Frustrating" often describes "experience," "situation," "delay," "process," "day," and "problem." In each case it signals that the thing is not just unpleasant but obstructive or hard to get past.
Is "frustrating" formal or informal?
"Frustrating" is neutral and appears in both casual conversation and formal writing. It conveys a mix of annoyance and thwarted effort, making it more specific than a plain word like "bad."
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