frustrate

frus·trate

verb

The definition of frustrate is to hinder someone's plans or efforts, or to make someone feel annoyed because you are hindering their efforts or refusing to cooperate.

When all the necessary tools are not available to complete a specific project, this is an example of a way to frustrate a job.
When you keep trying to talk to your friend and he keeps interrupting you which annoys you, this is an example of a time when your friend frustrates you.

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"frustrate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Frustrate>.

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frustrate. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Frustrate

frustrate

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
to cause (someone) to feel the impatience, impotence, annoyance, anger, etc. commonly felt when desires or needs are not satisfied

Origin of frustrate

Middle English frustraten from Classical Latin frustratus, past participle of frustrare, frustrari, to disappoint, deceive from frustra, in vain: for Indo-European base see fraud

to become frustrated

Now Rare frustrated; baffled; defeated

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MLA Style

"frustrate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Frustrate>.

APA Style

frustrate. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Frustrate

frustrate

transitive verb

frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates

a. To prevent (someone) from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: A persistent wind frustrated me as I tried to rake the leaves.
b. To cause feelings of discouragement, annoyance, or lack of fulfillment in: She was frustrated by his inability to remember her birthday.
To prevent from coming to fruition or fulfillment; render ineffectual: frustrated his ambition; frustrated their scheme for reform.

Origin of frustrate

Middle English frustraten from Latin frūstrārī frūstrāt- from frūstrā in vain

Related Forms:

frus′trat′er
noun

frus′trat′ing·ly
adverb

THE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.

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Link to this page

Cite this page

MLA Style

"frustrate." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 13 April 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/Frustrate>.

APA Style

frustrate. (n.d.). Retrieved April 13th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/Frustrate

Verb

(third-person singular simple present frustrates, present participle frustrating, simple past and past participle frustrated)

To disappoint or defeat; to vex by depriving of something expected or desired.
It frustrates me to do all this work and then lose it all.
To hinder or thwart.
My clumsy fingers frustrate my typing efforts.
To cause stress or panic
This test frustrates me because if I fail, it'll destroy my grade.