frustration
gb/fɹəstɹˈeɪʃən/ us/fɹəstɹˈeɪʃən/
B1
English
~ 1700
Senses
0 senses
Noun
B1
state
1
Feeling upset due to difficulty
A feeling of being angry or unhappy because you cannot do something.
Usage pattern:
[someone]'s frustration with [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'frustration' with 'failure'. 'Frustration' is the feeling; 'failure' is the event or result.
Synonyms
annoyance (Slightly weaker in intensity; can be about minor irritations.)
|
irritation (Often used for smaller, repeated problems rather than big obstacles.)
Antonyms
satisfaction (The pleasure of achieving a goal or having needs met.)
Collocations
express frustration
|feel frustration
|source of frustration
|show frustration
|deal with frustration
Themes
emotions
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She felt deep frustration when the computer crashed again.
- His frustration grew as the meeting dragged on without progress.
- The delay caused great frustration among the passengers.
- I could hear the frustration in her voice.
- Frustration is common when learning a new skill.
Learner examples
- I feel frustration when I cannot finish my work.
- He shows frustration when the bus is late.
- Her frustration is clear when she speaks.
- The game gave me a lot of frustration.
Noun
B2
action
2
Prevention of success or progress
An action that stops someone from doing what they want to do.
Usage pattern:
the frustration of [someone]'s plans
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse this sense with the emotional feeling. Here it refers to an action, not an emotion.
Synonyms
obstruction (More formal and often used in legal or political contexts.)
Antonyms
fulfillment (The successful achievement of something planned.)
Collocations
frustration of justice
|frustration of plans
|political frustration
Themes
conflict
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|work
Examples
- The frustration of their plans came as a surprise.
- He was charged with the frustration of justice.
- The project faced the frustration of its goals by external forces.
Learner examples
- The frustration of my plan made me sad.
- We had the frustration of our trip because of rain.
- They faced the frustration of their hopes.
Grammar
Dictionary form
frustration
IPA
GB/fɹəstɹˈeɪʃən/
US/fɹəstɹˈeɪʃən/
Syllables & stress
frus - tra - tion (3 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (tra)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: frustration
- Plural: frustration, frustrations
Word family
Forms
frustrations
noun
Core family
Related words
frustratingly
adverb
Expressions
out of frustration
1/ˈaʊt əv fɹəstɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Because of feeling upset or annoyed
Because you feel upset or angry about something difficult.
Examples
- He slammed the door out of frustration.
- She quit her job out of frustration with her boss.
source of frustration
1/sˈɔɹs əv fɹəstɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Cause of upset feelings
Something that makes you feel angry or unhappy because it is difficult.
Examples
- Traffic is a major source of frustration for commuters.
- The slow internet connection has been a constant source of frustration.
vent one's frustration
1/vˈɛnt wˈʌnz fɹəstɹˈeɪʃən/
fixed phrase
Express anger or annoyance openly
To show your anger or unhappiness in words or actions.
Examples
- She vented her frustration by yelling at the referee.
- He vents his frustration through writing in his journal.