frustrate Definition
frus·trate (frus′trāt′)
transitive verb -·trat′ed, -·trat′·ing
- to cause to have no effect; bring to nothing; counteract; nullify to frustrate plans
- to prevent from achieving an objective; foil; baffle; defeat to frustrate an opponent
- Psychol. to prevent from gratifying certain impulses or desires, either conscious or unconscious
Etymology: ME frustraten < L frustratus, pp. of frustrare, frustrari, to disappoint, deceive < frustra, in vain: for IE base see fraud
intransitive verb
to become frustrated
adjective
Now Rare frustrated; baffled; defeated
frustrate Synonyms
frustrate
v.
to frustrate means to deprive of effect or render worthless an effort directed to some end; thwart and balk both mean to frustrate by blocking someone or something moving toward some objective; foil means to throw off course so as to discourage further effort or make it of no avail our plans were foiled by bad weather; to baffle is to defeat the efforts of by bewildering or confusing the crime baffled the police
frustrate Usage Examples
Subject
- inability: The two sides repaired to the ' Shoes for refreshment but were frustrated by an inability to get served.
- lack: Many people are frustrated by the lack of success which is apparent, regardless of the party in office.
- limitation: Many are frustrated by the limitations of their role in the new political structures.
- delay: Here no one gets frustrated by these little delays.
Object
- attempt: Any resolution of these problems must begin by going beyond the limits which frustrated all previous attempts at independent national development.
- ambition: I personally don't understand astrology but I can't help feeling that I am already frustrating the ambitions of a budding ethicist.
- feeling: ISPs feeling frustrated with Ofcom's BT price hike ' support ' .
- bit: I was starting to get a bit frustrated what with the amount of time I have been out of work.
- intention: The law will remain unnecessarily complex with the risk that it will frustrate the intentions of those setting up trusts.
Preposition: at
lack: Staff can still become frustrated at the lack of co-operation between offices.
Adjective complement
beatable: Back to unit card because i. Like you tom frustrating tho beatable you are on my winnings and.
Modifying Another Word
- sexually: When sexually frustrated, rabbits often nip and bite the victim of their frustration.
- understandably: Bayes looked understandably frustrated and Ricketts showed his relief by patting his chest.
- increasingly: I'd been getting increasingly frustrated with some of the kids ' songs we'd been singing in church.
Used with why or when
when: Children love drawing, but can become frustrated when their pictures do not turn out how they want.
Preposition: with
lack: They may get frustrated with the lack of rules or the self-control required.
Preposition: by
- inability: The two sides repaired to the ' Shoes for refreshment but were frustrated by an inability to get served.
- lack: Many people are frustrated by the lack of success which is apparent, regardless of the party in office.
- limitation: Many are frustrated by the limitations of their role in the new political structures.
- delay: Here no one gets frustrated by these little delays.
Browse dictionary entries near frustrate
- ‹ Frunze
- ‹ frump
- ‹ frumenty
- ‹ frumentaceous
- ‹ fruity
- ‹ fruitwood
- ‹ fruitless
- ‹ fruition
- ‹ fruiting body
- ‹ fruitful
- frustration ›
- frustule ›
- frustum ›
- frutescent ›
- fruticose ›
- fry ›
- fry bread ›
- fry-up ›
- fryer ›
- frying pan ›

