frustrating
gb/fɹˈʌstɹˌeɪtɪŋ/ us/fɹˈʌstɹˌeɪtɪŋ/
B1
English
~ 7800
frusztráló, akadályoz, hátráltat, meghiúsít
B1
1
frusztráló
B2
Usage pattern:
[something] is frustrating (for [someone])
The most frustrating part of the process was waiting weeks for a reply.
A folyamat legfrusztrálóbb része az volt, hogy heteket kellett várni a válaszra.
It’s really frustrating when the internet keeps cutting out during a video call.
Nagyon frusztráló, amikor videóhívás közben folyton megszakad az internetkapcsolat.
Learning to drive can be frustrating at first, but it gets easier with practice.
I find it frustrating that the website doesn’t work on my phone.
Her computer crashed again, which was especially frustrating because she hadn’t saved her work.
Learner examples
This game is fun but very frustrating.
Ez a játék szórakoztató, de nagyon frusztráló.
It is frustrating when people do not listen to you.
Frusztráló, amikor az emberek nem hallgatnak rád.
Waiting in a long line can be frustrating.
He finds it frustrating that he cannot speak English well yet.
The slow service at the restaurant was frustrating for us.
Common mistake:
Learners often say *“I am frustrating”* when they mean *“I am frustrated.”* Use **frustrated** to describe how you feel, and **frustrating** to describe the thing that causes the feeling (e.g. *“This homework is frustrating. I am frustrated.”*). Another mistake is overusing it for very serious situations where words like *“upsetting”* or *“devastating”* may be more appropriate.
Meaning
causing annoyance or disappointment
Collocations
very frustrating
|extremely frustrating
|frustrating experience
|frustrating situation
|can be frustrating
|find [something] frustrating
Synonyms
annoying (Slightly more general and often a bit weaker; can be used for small everyday irritations.)
|
irritating (Similar strength, but often focuses more on making someone feel tense or angry.)
|
discouraging (Focuses more on making someone feel like giving up, less on simple anger or irritation.)
Antonyms
satisfying (Opposite because it describes something that gives pleasure and a good feeling of success instead of annoyance.)
|
enjoyable (Opposite in that it describes something pleasant and fun rather than upsetting or annoying.)
Themes
emotions
|daily_life
|work
|relationships
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Making you feel angry or upset because something is hard, slow, or does not happen the way you want.
Causing someone to feel annoyed, disappointed, or discouraged because something is difficult, slow, or not going the way they want.
VERB
B2
FORMAL
2
Usage pattern:
[something/someone] is frustrating [someone’s] efforts/plan
The new regulations are frustrating small businesses’ efforts to expand.
Az új előírások akadályozzák a kisvállalkozások terjeszkedési törekvéseit.
Several unexpected delays are frustrating the team’s progress on the project.
Több váratlan késedelem is hátráltatja a csapat előrehaladását a projektben.
Protesters were accused of frustrating the police investigation.
Technical problems kept frustrating their attempts to launch the product on time.
Learner examples
Heavy traffic is frustrating our plans to arrive on time.
A sűrű forgalom akadályozza, hogy időben megérkezzünk.
Rain is frustrating the workers’ efforts to finish the road.
Az eső hátráltatja a munkásokat az út befejezésében.
Computer errors are frustrating my attempts to send the report.
New rules are frustrating the company’s plan to grow.
Common mistake:
Learners often only know *frustrating* as an adjective and do not recognize this -ing form as the verb *frustrate* in continuous use (e.g. *“Delays are frustrating our plans”*). They may misread it as describing feelings instead of an action that blocks progress.
Meaning
actively preventing success or progress
Collocations
frustrating efforts
|frustrating progress
|frustrating the investigation
|frustrating the plan
|frustrating attempts
Synonyms
thwarting (Very close in meaning in formal contexts; suggests active and often planned blocking of someone’s goals.)
|
hindering (Suggests making progress slower or harder, but not always completely stopping success.)
Antonyms
advancing (Opposite because it means helping something move forward or make progress.)
|
facilitating (Opposite in that it means making an action or process easier instead of blocking it.)
Themes
work
|politics
|law
|emotions
|core_vocabulary
Definition
Stopping a plan or effort from working or reaching its goal, usually by making progress difficult or impossible.
Acting in a way that prevents a plan, effort, or person from achieving their goal, often by blocking or slowing progress.
Grammar
Dictionary form
frustrating
IPA
GB/fɹˈʌstɹˌeɪtɪŋ/
US/fɹˈʌstɹˌeɪtɪŋ/
Syllables & stress
frus - trat - ing (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (frus)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: frustrating
- Comparative: frustratinger
- Superlative: frustratingest
Verb
- Base: frustrating
- 3rd Person Singular: frustratings
- Present Participle: frustratinging
- Past: frustratinged
- Past Participle: frustratinged
Word family
Forms
frustratings
verb
frustratinging
verb
frustratinged
verb
frustratinger
adjective
frustratingest
adjective
Core family
Related words
frustratingly
adverb
Expressions
find [something] frustrating
1/fˈaɪnd sˈʌmθɪŋ fɹˈʌstɹˌeɪtɪŋ/
fixed phrase
to experience something as frustrating
To feel that something is difficult or annoying.
Examples
- Many students find speaking in public frustrating.
- I find it frustrating that the app crashes so often.
how frustrating!
1/hˈaʊ fɹˈʌstɹˌeɪtɪŋ ‖/
fixed phrase
informal
exclaiming strong frustration
Used as an exclamation to show that something is very annoying or disappointing.
Examples
- The train was canceled again? How frustrating!
- You lost all your work because the file didn’t save? How frustrating!
it’s frustrating when ...
1/ˈɪts fɹˈʌstɹˌeɪtɪŋ wˈɛn |/
fixed phrase
saying a situation is annoying
Used to say that a type of situation makes you feel annoyed or upset.
Examples
- It’s frustrating when people cancel plans at the last minute.
- It’s frustrating when you study hard but still don’t pass the test.