frustrating

1 of 2

adjective

frus·​trat·​ing ˈfrə-ˌstrā-tiŋ How to pronounce frustrating (audio)
Synonyms of frustrating
: causing feelings of anger and annoyance : tending to produce or characterized by frustration
a frustrating delay
a very frustrating experience
Mischel concludes that having the willpower to wait isn't about being stoic. It's about learning techniques that make waiting less frustrating.—Pamela Druckerman
frustratingly adverb
a frustratingly slow process
The book is sprawling and self-indulgent. Most frustratingly, it is almost entirely devoid of serious military analysis. —Hew Strachan

frustrating

2 of 2

present participle of frustrate entry 1

Synonyms of frustrating

Relevance

Adjective

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Examples of frustrating in a Sentence

Adjective All these delays have been very frustrating. these daily traffic jams are frustrating
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
At this point in the draft, every RB has questions, but volume remains king, and Harvey could be in a frustrating battle for touches all season. — Jonathan Rubin, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 Bohm’s Phillies career has been sometimes frustrating, sometimes exciting, sometimes perplexing. — Charlotte Varnes, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 The estimated 200,000 commuters rushing through the hub on a typical weekday, meanwhile, found the options somewhat frustrating. — Anne Kadet, Curbed, 24 Aug. 2026 There are few things more frustrating than waking in the middle of the night feeling hot, sticky and uncomfortable. — New Atlas, 24 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frustrating

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frustrating was in 1837

Rhymes for frustrating

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Browse Nearby Words

frustrater
frustrating
frustration
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frustrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frustrating. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Kids Definition

frustrating

adjective
: producing frustration
a frustrating delay
frustratingly adverb
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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