frustrating

adjective

frus·​trat·​ing ˈfrə-ˌstrā-tiŋ 

: causing feelings of anger and annoyance : tending to produce or characterized by frustration

a frustrating delay

a very frustrating experience

Mischel concludes that having the willpower to wait isn't about being stoic. It's about learning techniques that make waiting less frustrating.

—Pamela Druckerman

frustratingly adverb

a frustratingly slow process

The book is sprawling and self-indulgent. Most frustratingly, it is almost entirely devoid of serious military analysis.

—Hew Strachan

Synonyms

• abrasive
• aggravating
• annoying
• bothersome
• carking
• chafing
• disturbing
• exasperating
• galling
• irksome
• irritating
• maddening
• nettlesome
• nettling
• peeving
• pesky
• pestiferous
• pestilent
• pestilential
• pesty
• plaguey
• plaguy
• rankling
• rebarbative
• riling
• vexatious
• vexing

Examples of frustrating in a Sentence

All these delays have been very frustrating.

these daily traffic jams are frustrating

Recent Examples on the Web

Prediction: Bengals 37, Cowboys 30 Matt Levine: The Bengals have been one of the more frustrating teams this season. —Paul Du Quenoy, Newsweek, 9 Dec. 2024

The Eagles know their offense can’t devolve into a frustrating mess for a second straight season. —Brooks Kubena, The Athletic, 9 Dec. 2024

While that’s been frustrating for operators with single-state licenses, it’s also protected them from being squeezed out by multi-state corporations. —Mary Jane Gibson, Rolling Stone, 8 Dec. 2024

Still, the Dolphins’ drop in run game production has been frustrating. —Chris Perkins, Sun Sentinel, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1871, in the meaning defined above

Kids Definition

frustrating

adjective

: producing frustration

a frustrating delay

frustratingly adverb