frustration

[ fruh-strey-shuhn ]

noun

1. act of frustrating; state of being frustrated: frustrated:

   the frustration of the president's efforts.

2. an instance of being frustrated: frustrated:

   to experience a series of frustrations before completing a project.

3. something that frustrates, as an unresolved problem.
4. a feeling of dissatisfaction, often accompanied by anxiety or depression, resulting from unfulfilled needs or unresolved problems.

frustration

/ frʌˈstreɪʃən /

noun

1. the condition of being frustrated
2. something that frustrates
3. psychol
   1. the prevention or hindering of a potentially satisfying activity
   2. the emotional reaction to such prevention that may involve aggression

Other Words From

• nonfrus·tration noun
• over·frus·tration noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of frustration¹

First recorded in 1425–75; late Middle English frustracioun, from Latin frustrātiōn-, stem of frustrātiō “deception, disappointment”; equivalent to frustrate + -ion

Example Sentences

"I think that there has been frustration, that's obvious and I think everybody has been frustrated about how long this has gone on."

From BBC

Parents polled endorsed a variety of strategies to help their child deal with anger or frustration.

From Science Daily

Regarding Pete Hegseth, who Trump nominated to run the Defense Department, an anonymous person linked to Trump's transition team professed "frustration" to the Washington Post, complaining, "He hadn’t been properly vetted."

From Salon

Anyone who has ever tried to get rid of a few extra kilos knows the frustration: the weight drops initially, only to be back within a matter of weeks -- the yo-yo effect has struck.

From Science Daily

During his first term, Trump often expressed frustration at the legal and political limits on what he could do as president.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• annoyance
• dissatisfaction
• failure
• grievance
• irritation
• resentment