frustrated

adjective

frus·​trat·​ed ˈfrə-ˌstrā-təd 

: feeling, showing, or characterized by frustration: such as

a

: feeling discouragement, anger, and annoyance because of unresolved problems or unfulfilled goals, desires, or needs

In fact Harry thought his behavior had been very good considering how frustrated and angry he felt at being stuck in Privet Drive this long …

—J. K. Rowling

b

: having an ambition that has not been realized

a frustrated actor [=a person who wants to be an actor but has not succeeded in becoming one]

Over the past decade, however, advances in digital printing technologies have brought the costs of publication down and paved the way for thousands of frustrated writers to get their work into print.

—Robert K. J. Killheffer

Examples of frustrated in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Cooks ultimately grew frustrated with his role, and the Saints traded him to the New England Patriots in 2017. —Nick Kosmider, New York Times, 14 Apr. 2025

Trump officials have become increasingly frustrated with the slow pace of ceasefire talks. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 14 Apr. 2025

People often seek help because someone else in their life has become frustrated with their tendency to hyperfixate. —Angela Haupt, Time, 14 Apr. 2025

Much of this is a credit to Anna Lambe, who had a supporting role in True Detective: Night Country as Kayla Prior, the frustrated wife of Jodie Foster’s favorite deputy. —Alan Sepinwall, Rolling Stone, 10 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1643, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for frustrated

• abated
• ablated
• awaited
• belated
• berated
• castrated
• chelated
• citrated
• collated
• conflated
• created
• curated

Medical Definition

frustrated

adjective

frus·​trat·​ed

: filled with a sense of frustration : feeling deep insecurity, discouragement, or dissatisfaction

learned not to resort to aggressiveness when frustrated

—Ashley Montagu