What does frustrate mean?
"Frustrate" is a transitive verb meaning to prevent someone from achieving a goal or to block an effort so thoroughly that it fails. It carries two closely linked senses: externally, it describes the thwarting of plans, attempts, or ambitions — authorities may frustrate a plot, red tape may frustrate a project; internally, it describes the emotional effect of that blockage, leaving a person annoyed, impatient, and discouraged. The word derives from the Latin frustra, meaning "in vain," a lineage it shares with the noun "frustration." In modern usage, its derived forms are especially common: "frustrated" describes the feeling of being held back, while "frustrating" characterizes whatever causes that feeling. Because it captures one of the most universal of human experiences — the collision between intention and obstacle — "frustrate" remains a precise and valuable word for describing both failed endeavours and the emotions they produce.
verbTo prevent someone from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; to cause a person to feel annoyed and discouraged as a result of being blocked or thwarted.
- To prevent a person, plan, or effort from succeeding or achieving its aim.
- To cause someone to feel annoyed, impatient, or discouraged through obstruction or difficulty.
"The defenders managed to frustrate every attempt to breach the city walls."
"Budget cuts frustrated the team's hopes of launching the project this year."
"It frustrated her that no matter how carefully she planned, something always went wrong at the last minute."
"Frustrate" comes straight from the Latin frustra — "in vain" — so when you're frustrated, you're literally living out an ancient Roman word for wasted effort.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of frustrate
"Frustrate" comes from the Latin verb frustrari, meaning "to disappoint" or "to make vain," itself rooted in frustra, "in vain." The word entered English in the early 15th century, initially carrying the sense of disappointing someone's hopes. Its close relative "frustration" developed later as the noun expressing the emotional state the verb produces, and both retain the core Latin idea of effort that comes to nothing.
Related word forms
How frustrate is actually used
"Frustrate" is standard in both formal and informal contexts and carries an inherently negative connotation of blockage or futility. In everyday speech the derived forms "frustrated" and "frustrating" are far more common than the bare verb, which tends to appear in slightly more formal or narrative writing.
Easily confused with frustrate
"Flustered" describes being agitated or confused in the moment, while "frustrated" describes the irritation of being persistently blocked from achieving something.