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frustrate Definition

frus·trate (frus′trāt′)

transitive verb -·trat′ed, -·trat′·ing

  1. to cause to have no effect; bring to nothing; counteract; nullify to frustrate plans
  2. to prevent from achieving an objective; foil; baffle; defeat to frustrate an opponent
  3. 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.

prevent, thwart, defeat, foil, balk, baffle, nullify, stymie, disappoint, discourage; see also disappoint, hinder, prevent.

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

  1. ‹ Frunze
  2. ‹ frump
  3. ‹ frumenty
  4. ‹ frumentaceous
  5. ‹ fruity
  6. ‹ fruitwood
  7. ‹ fruitless
  8. ‹ fruition
  9. ‹ fruiting body
  10. ‹ fruitful
  1. frustration ›
  2. frustule ›
  3. frustum ›
  4. frutescent ›
  5. fruticose ›
  6. fry ›
  7. fry bread ›
  8. fry-up ›
  9. fryer ›
  10. frying pan ›