frustrate

[ fruhs-treyt ]
/ ˈfrʌs treɪt /

verb (used with object), frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing.

to make (plans, efforts, etc.) worthless or of no avail; defeat; nullify: The student's indifference frustrated the teacher's efforts to help him.
to disappoint or thwart (a person): a talented woman whom life had frustrated.

verb (used without object), frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing.

to become frustrated: His trouble is that he frustrates much too easily.

adjective

Obsolete. frustrated.

Origin of frustrate

1400–50; late Middle English < Latin frustrātus, past participle of frustrārī, verbal derivative of frustrā in vain

OTHER WORDS FROM frustrate

frus·trat·er, noun frus·trat·ing·ly, adverb frus·tra·tive [fruhs-trey-tiv, -truh-] /ˈfrʌs treɪ tɪv, -trə-/, adjective re·frus·trate, verb (used with object), re·frus·trat·ed, re·frus·trat·ing.

Words nearby frustrate

Example sentences from the Web for frustrating

British Dictionary definitions for frustrating

frustrate
/ (frʌˈstreɪt) /

verb (tr)

to hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of; thwart
to upset, agitate, or tire her constant complaints began to frustrate him

adjective

archaic frustrated or thwarted; baffled

Derived forms of frustrate

frustrater, noun

Word Origin for frustrate

C15: from Latin frustrāre to cheat, from frustrā in error