Frustrated — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

adjective verb /ˈfrə-ˌstrā-təd/ frus·trat·ed

Meaning & Definition of Frustrated

Frustrated (adjective)

  1. feeling, showing, or characterized by frustration
  2. feeling discouragement, anger, and annoyance because of unresolved problems or unfulfilled goals, desires, or needs
  3. having an ambition that has not been realized

Frustrated (adjective) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. as in disappointed, disillusioned

    similar: disappointed, disenchanted, disillusioned, unfulfilled, aggrieved, discontent, discontented, disgruntled, displeased, dissatisfied, malcontent, disquieted, disturbed, perturbed, upset, dejected, depressed, despairing, despondent, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, hangdog, inconsolable, joyless, low-spirited, miserable, mournful, sad, sorrowful, unhappy
    opposite: content, contented, gratified, pleased, satisfied, blissful, delighted, glad, happy, joyful, joyous, elated, exultant, jubilant, triumphant

Frustrated (verb) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "a multitude of conflicting opinions frustrated me in my attempt to find a computer that best suits my needs"

    similar: baffled, balked, beat, checkmated, discomfited, foiled, thwarted
    related: barred, blocked, clogged, encumbered, fettered, hampered, handicapped, held back, hindered, hobbled, impeded, inhibited, interfered (with), manacled, obstructed, shackled, tied up, trammeled, arrested, checked, halted, set back, short-circuited, stalled, stopped, averted, forestalled, obviated, precluded, prevented, negated, neutralized, nullified, counteracted, offset, conquered, defeated, overcame
    opposite: advanced, cultivated, encouraged, forwarded, fostered, furthered, nurtured, promoted
    near: abetted, aided, assisted, eased, facilitated, smoothed

  2. to lessen the courage or confidence of

    "challenge the math student, but don't frustrate him or her with overly difficult problems"

    similar: chilled, daunted, demoralized, discouraged, disheartened, dismayed, dispirited, unmanned, unnerved, threw cold water on
    related: browbeat, bullied, cowed, intimidated, depressed, saddened, weighed, afflicted, tried, damped, dampened, deadened, distressed, troubled, bothered, irked, vexed, worried, debilitated, enfeebled, undermined, weakened, frightened, horrified, scared
    opposite: emboldened, encouraged, heartened, nerved, steeled
    near: buoyed (up), cheered, gladdened, animated, enlivened, invigorated, enforced, fortified, reinforced, strengthened, assured, reassured, boosted, energized, excited, galvanized, inspired, lifted, provoked, quickened, rallied, stimulated, stirred

Related Entry: Frustrate (verb)

Frustrate is a different word from Frustrated. The synonyms below are for frustrate, not for frustrated.

  1. to prevent from achieving a goal

    "a multitude of conflicting opinions frustrated me in my attempt to find a computer that best suits my needs"

    similar: baffle, balk, beat, checkmate, discomfit, foil, thwart
    related: bar, block, clog, encumber, fetter, hamper, handicap, hinder, hobble, hold back, impede, inhibit, interfere (with), manacle, obstruct, shackle, tie up, trammel, arrest, check, halt, set back, short-circuit, stall, stop, avert, forestall, obviate, preclude, prevent, negate, neutralize, nullify, counteract, offset, conquer, defeat, overcome
    opposite: advance, cultivate, encourage, forward, foster, further, nurture, promote
    near: abet, aid, assist, ease, facilitate, smooth

  2. to lessen the courage or confidence of

    "challenge the math student, but don't frustrate him or her with overly difficult problems"

    similar: chill, daunt, demoralize, discourage, dishearten, dismay, dispirit, unman, unnerve, throw cold water on
    related: browbeat, bully, cow, intimidate, depress, sadden, weigh, afflict, try, damp, dampen, deaden, distress, trouble, bother, irk, vex, worry, debilitate, enfeeble, undermine, weaken, frighten, horrify, scare
    opposite: embolden, encourage, hearten, nerve, steel
    near: buoy (up), cheer, gladden, animate, enliven, invigorate, enforce, fortify, reinforce, strengthen, assure, reassure, boost, energize, excite, galvanize, inspire, lift, provoke, quicken, rally, stimulate, stir

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Frustrated

The most common words with a similar meaning to Frustrated:

disappointed, disenchanted, disillusioned, unfulfilled, aggrieved, discontent, discontented, disgruntled, displeased, dissatisfied, malcontent, disquieted, disturbed, perturbed, upset, dejected, depressed, despairing, despondent, disconsolate, doleful, down, downcast, downhearted, forlorn, hangdog, inconsolable, joyless, low-spirited, miserable, mournful, sad, sorrowful, unhappy, baffled, balked, beat, checkmated, discomfited, foiled

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Frustrated

Words with the opposite meaning of Frustrated:

content, contented, gratified, pleased, satisfied, blissful, delighted, glad, happy, joyful, joyous, elated, exultant, jubilant, triumphant, advanced, cultivated, encouraged, forwarded, fostered, furthered, nurtured, promoted, emboldened, heartened, nerved, steeled

Related Words for Frustrated

barred, blocked, clogged, encumbered, fettered, hampered, handicapped, held back, hindered, hobbled, impeded, inhibited, interfered (with), manacled, obstructed, shackled, tied up, trammeled, arrested, checked, halted, set back, short-circuited, stalled, stopped, averted, forestalled, obviated, precluded, prevented

Near Antonyms of Frustrated

abetted, aided, assisted, eased, facilitated, smoothed, buoyed (up), cheered, gladdened, animated, enlivened, invigorated, enforced, fortified, reinforced, strengthened, assured, reassured, boosted, energized, excited, galvanized, inspired, lifted, provoked, quickened, rallied, stimulated, stirred

Origin & Etymology of Frustrated

First known use: 1574

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Frustrated

Frequently Asked Questions about Frustrated

What does "Frustrated" mean?

"Frustrated" means feeling, showing, or characterized by frustration. As an an adjective and a verb, it is defined as: feeling, showing, or characterized by frustration. It has 3 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Frustrated"?

Other words for "Frustrated" include disappointed, disenchanted, disillusioned, unfulfilled, aggrieved, discontent, discontented and disgruntled. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Frustrated" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Frustrated"?

There are 113 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Frustrated". Common alternatives include disappointed, disenchanted, disillusioned, unfulfilled, aggrieved, discontent, discontented, disgruntled, displeased and dissatisfied.

What is the opposite of "Frustrated"?

Antonyms of "Frustrated" include content, contented, gratified, pleased, satisfied, blissful, delighted and glad. Near antonyms include abetted, aided, assisted and eased.

How do you use "Frustrated" in a sentence?

Examples of "Frustrated" in a sentence: "a multitude of conflicting opinions frustrated me in my attempt to find a computer that best suits my needs"; "challenge the math student, but don't frustrate him or her with overly difficult problems".

Is "Frustrated" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Frustrated" can be used as an adjective and a verb, depending on the context.

Is "Frustrated" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a C1-level word, "Frustrated" is typical of Cambridge C1 Advanced (CAE), IELTS band 7.0–8.0, TOEFL iBT 95–113, PTE Academic 76–84, TOEIC Listening & Reading 945+. Advanced words like this are also useful for the GRE, SAT, GMAT, and LSAT.

How do you pronounce "Frustrated"?

"Frustrated" is pronounced /ˈfrə-ˌstrā-təd/ and divided into syllables as frus·trat·ed.