Use frustrated for the feeling that comes when effort meets delay, failure, or resistance.
Use frustrated for the feeling that comes when effort meets delay, failure, or resistance.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She is frustrate after the test. | She is frustrated after the test. |
| I am frustrated of the delay. | I am frustrated by the delay. |
| He felt frustrated to the slow service. | He felt frustrated with the slow service. |
Use frustrated before a role noun when someone wanted that role but never quite reached it, as in frustrated writer.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She is frustrated writer. | She is a frustrated writer. |
| He is a frustrated actor, so he must be angry now. | He is a frustrated actor, so he never reached the acting career he wanted. |
| They are frustrated at musicians. | They are frustrated musicians. |
Use frustrated before nouns such as desire, rage, or love when the feeling is blocked rather than openly fulfilled.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| She shouted with frustrated joy after winning. | She shouted with pure joy after winning. |
| They spoke of frustrated love that had always been returned. | They spoke of frustrated love that had never been returned. |
| He felt sexually frustrated after a satisfying relationship. | He felt sexually satisfied after a satisfying relationship. |
Use frustrated with nouns like attempt, plan, or effort when the point is that the aim was prevented, not merely delayed.
| Incorrect | Correct |
| The frustrated attempt succeeded easily. | The attempt succeeded easily. |
| A frustrated plan went ahead exactly as expected. | The plan went ahead exactly as expected. |
| The frustrated meeting started ten minutes late. | The meeting started ten minutes late. |
Use frustrated for a blocked feeling first, and keep the ambition, desire, and thwarted-effort senses for contexts where nonfulfillment is central.
The -ed ending is dropped in forms like I feel frustrate, and frustrated is sometimes used where only a delay or ordinary anger is meant.
From the past-participle adjective of frustrate, ultimately from Latin frustratus, past participle of frustrari, "to deceive, disappoint, or make vain", from frustra, "in vain".
What does frustrated mean?
Frustrated usually means annoyed, discouraged, or impatient because a goal, need, or effort is blocked.
Can frustrated describe a person?
Yes. A person can feel frustrated, and a phrase such as frustrated writer can mean someone whose hoped-for role has not been achieved.
Can frustrated describe emotions or desires?
Yes. Frustrated desire, rage, or love is a feeling that has been blocked, held back, or left unsatisfied.
Can a plan or attempt be frustrated?
Yes. In a more formal use, a frustrated plan or attempt has been prevented from succeeding.
Is frustrated a verb?
No. Frustrated is an adjective or past participle. The base verb is frustrate.
Where does frustrated come from?
Frustrated comes through frustrate from Latin forms linked to being deceived, disappointed, or made vain.