frustration
Frustration (noun) means a feeling of annoyance or distress caused by being unable to do or achieve something. Example: “His frustration grew as the traffic barely moved.”
How to use frustration
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishThe feeling of being blocked or unable to achieve what you want, or the thing that causes that feeling.
Word forms
frustrations plural
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
His _____ grew as the traffic barely moved.
Etymology
From Latin frūstrātiō, "disappointment," related to frūstrā, "in vain."
Related words
Rhymes for frustration
Frequently asked questions
What does “frustration” mean?
The word “frustration” means a feeling of annoyance or distress caused by being unable to do or achieve something. In plain terms, the feeling of being blocked or unable to achieve what you want, or the thing that causes that feeling.
How do you pronounce “frustration”?
“Frustration” is pronounced fruhs-TRAY-shuhn (/fɹʌsˈtɹeɪ.ʃən/ in IPA).
How do you use “frustration” in a sentence?
Here is “frustration” used in a sentence: “His frustration grew as the traffic barely moved.”
What part of speech is “frustration”?
“Frustration” is a noun.
Where does the word “frustration” come from?
The word “frustration” comes from Latin. From Latin frūstrātiō, "disappointment," related to frūstrā, "in vain.".
Is “frustration” a common word?
“Frustration” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “frustration” have?
“Frustration” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: a feeling of annoyance or distress caused by being unable to do or achieve something.
What is the difference between "frustration" and "anger"?
"Frustration" is the distress of being blocked from doing or achieving something, while "anger" is a stronger, more hostile emotion directed at a person or cause. Frustration can build into anger, but on its own it centres on feeling stuck rather than wanting to lash out.
What words commonly go with "frustration"?
"Frustration" often appears in phrases such as "sheer frustration," "growing frustration," "vent frustration," "express frustration," and "a source of frustration." These pairings describe either the intensity of the feeling or how it is released.
Can "frustration" refer to a thing as well as a feeling?
Yes. Besides naming the emotion, "frustration" can mean something that causes that feeling, as in "the delays were a constant frustration." In this sense it points to the obstacle itself rather than the mood.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing frustration in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Interface frustration is rarely accidental; the patterns that annoy people most reliably are the ones that serve someone else.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include frustration: