Frustrated
/ˈfrʌstreɪtɪd/
adjectiveB1past participle used as adjective
Definition
Frustrated describes the feeling you have when you want to do or achieve something but face problems or obstacles that stop you. It is an emotional state of being upset, disappointed, or angry because things do not work out as expected.
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See It in Action
Feeling upset or annoyed because of problems or obstacles
- •She felt frustrated when she couldn't solve the math problem.
- •He was frustrated by the long wait at the airport.
- •They became frustrated after trying many times to fix the broken bike.
Describing a person who is unhappy because their goals are blocked
- •The frustrated student asked the teacher for more help.
- •Frustrated workers sometimes lose motivation.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "frustrated" like "sad" or "angry," but it happens when you try hard but cannot succeed.
- ✓Picture someone trying to open a stuck jar lid and feeling upset because it won't open.
- ✓It's the feeling when you want to finish homework but the computer keeps crashing.
- ✓Sounds like "FRUSS-tray-tid" → imagine a person saying "Frustrate!" again and again when things go wrong.
- ✓Remember times when you wanted to play a game but the internet was too slow—this is frustration.
- ✓NOT like "happy" (good feeling), "frustrated" is a negative feeling caused by failure or difficulty.
- ✓NOT like "angry" (strong anger), "frustrated" is often a mix of sadness and mild anger.
- ✓NOT like "tired" (physical feeling), frustrated is an emotional feeling caused by problems.
Try Other Words
- •Annoyed: feeling bothered or irritated (Use when the feeling is more about small irritations than big problems)
- •Disappointed: feeling sad because something expected did not happen (Use when the focus is on sadness from unmet hopes)
- •Irritated: feeling slightly angry or annoyed (Use when the feeling is more about small annoyances)
Unboxing
- •Prefix: none (frustrated is formed from the verb "frustrate" + suffix "-ed")
- •Root: frustrate (meaning to prevent success or block a goal)
- •Suffix: "-ed" (shows past action or a state, here used as adjective)
- •Etymology: From Latin "frustratus," past participle of "frustrare," meaning to deceive or disappoint
- •Historical development: The verb "frustrate" has been used since the 15th century to mean blocking or preventing; the adjective "frustrated" describes the feeling from this action
- •Modern usage: Commonly used to describe feelings when people cannot reach their goals or face difficulties
Reflect & Connect
•How do you usually react when you feel frustrated? Can you think of ways to feel better?
•Can frustration sometimes help people try harder or be more creative? Why or why not?
Fill in the blanks
1.She felt frustrated because no matter how hard she tried, the puzzle ___ to be solved.
2.When people are frustrated, they often feel ___ and may want to stop what they are doing.
3.Unlike being simply tired, being frustrated means you are upset because ___.
4.He shrugged and looked frustrated, showing that he did not know how to ___ the problem.
5.Frustrated students sometimes ask for help when the task is too ___.
6.You might feel frustrated when your plans are ___ by unexpected problems.
7.The teacher noticed the frustrated expression and decided to ___ the lesson to help.