# frustrate

Pronunciation: US say "FRUS-trayt" /ˈfɹʌsˌtɹeɪt/; UK say "fruh-STRAYT" /fɹʌˈstɹeɪt/

## Verb

1. To cause someone stress or annoyance.
   - Simple: To make someone feel upset or annoyed.
   - _Constant interruptions frustrate her during important meetings._
   - _The confusing instructions frustrated the new employees on their first day._
2. To hinder or block something so that it cannot succeed.
   - Simple: To stop something from happening or succeeding.
   - _Poor coordination frustrated the team's attempt to finish on time._
   - _Strict rules frustrate any serious effort to change the system quickly._
3. To thwart someone or let them down, annoying them by withholding something they were expecting or hoping for.
   - Simple: To upset someone by taking away something they hoped for or expected.
   - _The court ruling frustrated the heirs who had expected a large inheritance._
   - _A sudden policy change can frustrate workers counting on a promised raise._

## Adjective

4. Having no effect or use; failing to produce any result.
   - Simple: Not able to work or succeed, and without any useful result.

## Origin

**Meanings 1–3** — From Middle English frustraten ("to prevent, disappoint, render useless"), from Latin frūstrātus, the past participle of frūstrō ("I deceive"), with the verb-forming suffix -ate. Compare French frustrer.
**Meaning 4** — From Middle English frustrat ("prevented, disappointed, rendered useless"), which served as both adjective and past participle of frustraten, from Latin frūstrātus, the past participle of frūstrō ("to deceive"), with the adjective-forming suffix -ate.

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/frustrate (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).