frus·trate
ˈfrə-ˌstrāt 
frustrated; frustrating
1
a
: to balk or defeat in an endeavor
frustrated her opponents by her ball-handling
b
: to induce feelings of discouragement in
Not being able to find a job frustrated him.
: characterized by frustration
Synonyms
Examples of frustrate in a Sentence
Verb
It frustrated him to miss so many games because of injuries.
We've been frustrated by bureaucratic delays.
Bureaucratic delays have frustrated our efforts to resolve this problem.
The lack of investors has frustrated them in their efforts to expand the company.
Recent Examples on the Web
Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
But the changes don’t apply to aftermarket parts, a distinction that frustrates right-to-repair advocates.
—Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024
Lawmakers filed a flurry of bills Wednesday aimed at addressing concerns regarding crypto mining on the first day of the fiscal session, looking for different approaches to regulating the burgeoning, and sometimes loud, industry that has frustrated many in rural Arkansas.
—Neal Earley, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
Other points of friction are likely to include the impasse in Congress over the $60 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, which has frustrated American allies, and Japan’s need to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities, which U.S. officials think is a weak link in the alliance.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
But the course of true love is frustrated by the characters’ cultural misunderstandings and the woman’s initial self-doubt.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Editors’ Picks How the city raises that money, however, frustrates Carmen Daniels, 74, a retired teacher and administrator who bought a three-bedroom home in East New York in 1998.
—Camille Baker, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
New Children's Museum parking fees frustrate some families Katey Yoder and her 1 ½-year-old daughter arrived at the Easter Egg Hunt to what Yoder described as a practically empty parking garage, only to have to park further away or pay to park in spaces that had been free during her previous visit.
—The Indianapolis Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Like Adler, she has been frustrated by the slow progress on a new safety standard.
—Chris Arnold, NPR, 2 Apr. 2024
The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
Learn more: Best personal loans Colleges help with their own forms:Some colleges offer students their own aid forms after FAFSA delays frustrate families
What's the Department of Education doing?
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024
Though polling in third place overall, Chega could serve as a kingmaker for a conservative coalition — or frustrate efforts to form a government by parties that refuse to partner with it.
—Catarina Fernandes Martins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
The Dominican Republic seemed content to sit deep and frustrate the US as Korbin Albert hit the underside of the crossbar at the end of the first half.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024
Drugstores also have been dealing with several issues that frustrate customers.
—Tom Murphy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
In refusing to tie up loose ends or even explain exactly what our protagonists are up against, the writer-director doesn’t frustrate expectations so much as whet appetite for future installments where those concerns will presumably be addressed.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 5 Oct. 2023
Home prices rose in July as low supply continued to frustrate buyers.
—Nicole Friedman, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2023
That imperative meant using the United Kingdom’s wealth and manpower to build coalitions with like-minded states to frustrate would-be European hegemons.
—David Reynolds, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2020
Verb
But Take Note Magna-Tiles are on the pricier side, and some kids may be frustrated by the fact that not all of the legs are moveable.
—Ashley Ziegler, Parents, 13 Apr. 2024
But the changes don’t apply to aftermarket parts, a distinction that frustrates right-to-repair advocates.
—Amanda Hoover, WIRED, 11 Apr. 2024
Lawmakers filed a flurry of bills Wednesday aimed at addressing concerns regarding crypto mining on the first day of the fiscal session, looking for different approaches to regulating the burgeoning, and sometimes loud, industry that has frustrated many in rural Arkansas.
—Neal Earley, arkansasonline.com, 11 Apr. 2024
Other points of friction are likely to include the impasse in Congress over the $60 billion U.S. aid package for Ukraine, which has frustrated American allies, and Japan’s need to strengthen its cybersecurity capabilities, which U.S. officials think is a weak link in the alliance.
—Michelle Lee, Washington Post, 9 Apr. 2024
But the course of true love is frustrated by the characters’ cultural misunderstandings and the woman’s initial self-doubt.
—Patrick Frater, Variety, 8 Apr. 2024
Editors’ Picks How the city raises that money, however, frustrates Carmen Daniels, 74, a retired teacher and administrator who bought a three-bedroom home in East New York in 1998.
—Camille Baker, New York Times, 2 Apr. 2024
New Children's Museum parking fees frustrate some families Katey Yoder and her 1 ½-year-old daughter arrived at the Easter Egg Hunt to what Yoder described as a practically empty parking garage, only to have to park further away or pay to park in spaces that had been free during her previous visit.
—The Indianapolis Star, 2 Apr. 2024
Like Adler, she has been frustrated by the slow progress on a new safety standard.
—Chris Arnold, NPR, 2 Apr. 2024
Adjective
Some colleges offer students their own aid forms after FAFSA delays frustrate families
As of this week, the U.S. Department of Education said nearly 4 million forms have been successfully submitted.
—The Enquirer, 23 Feb. 2024
Learn more: Best personal loans Colleges help with their own forms:Some colleges offer students their own aid forms after FAFSA delays frustrate families
What's the Department of Education doing?
—Medora Lee, USA TODAY, 21 Feb. 2024
Though polling in third place overall, Chega could serve as a kingmaker for a conservative coalition — or frustrate efforts to form a government by parties that refuse to partner with it.
—Catarina Fernandes Martins, Washington Post, 8 Mar. 2024
The Dominican Republic seemed content to sit deep and frustrate the US as Korbin Albert hit the underside of the crossbar at the end of the first half.
—George Ramsay, CNN, 21 Feb. 2024
Drugstores also have been dealing with several issues that frustrate customers.
—Tom Murphy, Fortune, 17 Oct. 2023
In refusing to tie up loose ends or even explain exactly what our protagonists are up against, the writer-director doesn’t frustrate expectations so much as whet appetite for future installments where those concerns will presumably be addressed.
—Dennis Harvey, Variety, 5 Oct. 2023
Home prices rose in July as low supply continued to frustrate buyers.
—Nicole Friedman, WSJ, 26 Sep. 2023
That imperative meant using the United Kingdom’s wealth and manpower to build coalitions with like-minded states to frustrate would-be European hegemons.
—David Reynolds, Foreign Affairs, 8 May 2020
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'frustrate.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near frustrate
Cite this Entry
“Frustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frustrate. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
frustrate
transitive verb
frus·trate
ˈfrəs-ˌtrāt
frustrated; frustrating
: to induce feelings of frustration in
Legal Definition
frustrate
transitive verb
frus·trate
ˈfrəs-ˌtrāt
frustrated; frustrating
: to make invalid or ineffectual : defeat
the remedial purposes of the Workers' Compensation Act should not be frustrated by rigid technical standards—Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corp., 559 A.2d 340 (1989)
Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corp., 559 A.2d 340 (1989)Love words? Need even more definitions?
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