FRUSTRATE Synonyms: 122 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the verb 'frustrate' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of frustrate are baffle , balk , foil , and thwart . While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent. // frustrated attempts at government reform

Q: When is 'baffle' a more appropriate choice than 'frustrate'?

The words baffle and frustrate can be used in similar contexts, but baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling. // baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

Q: When could 'balk' be used to replace 'frustrate'?

In some situations, the words balk and frustrate are roughly equivalent. However, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances. // officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

Q: When might 'foil' be a better fit than 'frustrate'?

The words foil and frustrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort. // foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

Q: In what contexts can 'thwart' take the place of 'frustrate'?

The meanings of thwart and frustrate largely overlap; however, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing. // the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

frustrate

verb

ˈfrə-ˌstrāt

Definition of frustrate

as in to thwart

to prevent from achieving a goal a multitude of conflicting opinions frustrated me in my attempt to find a computer that best suits my needs

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in to discourage

to lessen the courage or confidence of challenge the math student, but don't frustrate him or her with overly difficult problems

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Synonym Chooser

How does the verb frustrate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of frustrate are baffle, balk, foil, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is baffle a more appropriate choice than frustrate?

The words baffle and frustrate can be used in similar contexts, but baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When could balk be used to replace frustrate?

In some situations, the words balk and frustrate are roughly equivalent. However, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When might foil be a better fit than frustrate?

The words foil and frustrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

In what contexts can thwart take the place of frustrate?

The meanings of thwart and frustrate largely overlap; however, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

Example Sentences

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.

Recent Examples of frustrate The death has left Pomares grieving and frustrated over what can be done about the crocodile. — Ivan Taylor, CBS News, 27 Aug. 2026 The short answer is that unemployment among youth is more than 40 percent at this point, and there are many other reasons among the young people to be frustrated. — Fiction Non Fiction, Literary Hub, 27 Aug. 2026 Obviously frustrated at times on the field, Young threw two interceptions and never got his team anywhere close to the end zone. — Alex Zietlow, Charlotte Observer, 26 Aug. 2026 Three Montana ranchers told USA TODAY they were frustrated by the White House's decision to import more than 300,000 metric tons of foreign beef. — Zachary Schermele, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frustrate

Recent Examples of Synonyms for frustrate

Verb

After Jackson helped thwart a terror attack in Times Square in 2010, to his surprise, Parton came to visit him again after seeing him on TV.

— Jesse Zanger, CBS News, 25 Aug. 2026
As the writer and the actor spend time together, and the narrator tries to pry open some small window into M’s psyche, the process of gathering material is constantly being thwarted by M’s casual instructability.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Aug. 2026

Definition of thwart

Verb

This altruistic philosophy, however, doesn't discourage Obeid from partnering with, or promoting trendy food businesses.

— Lyndsay C. Green, Freep.com, 30 Aug. 2026
Moving these forces back from the likely front would keep its options open and discourage risk-taking by eastern NATO members.

— JENNIFER KAVANAGH, Foreign Affairs, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of discourage

Verb

As families wait for news about their relatives, damaged roads, power outages and fears of further flooding have hampered rescue efforts.

— Freddie Clayton, NBC news, 29 Aug. 2026
Analysts point out that on one hand, droughts can hamper hydroelectric generation, while high temperatures raise cooling demand and strain power grids.

— , CNBC, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of hamper

Verb

The scene never fails to baffle the senses as the path rises up about a thousand feet from the valley floor.

— Kalpana Mohan, Mercury News, 10 Aug. 2026
She is baffled by the way her friends Moe and Fumina rail against their parents, especially when Yuko is always holding back at home, forever walking on eggshells.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of baffle

Verb

That means making choices that support fertility, not hinder it — like getting regular exercise or cutting out cannabis, nicotine and alcohol.

— Andee Tagle, NPR, 26 Aug. 2026
Dodson and Rodriguez had been competing for the starting spot opposite Brooks, but injuries to that unit had watered down the competition and hindered the evaluation process.

— Omar Kelly August 26, Miami Herald, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of hinder

Verb

Cornstarch can create issues like clogging sprayers, impeding root growth, or interfering with leaf function.

— Leanne Potts, Better Homes & Gardens, 30 Aug. 2026
But Blanche played down concerns that the erosion of judicial trust could impede his efforts to advance his agenda.

— Alanna Durkin Richer, Chicago Tribune, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of impede

Verb

The problem is, Isolde is very busy with work, so Ry is often left to herself with four alarms a day to take medication to prevent seizures.

— Dessi Gomez, Deadline, 26 Aug. 2026
Shingles, which can cause painful rashes, fever, chills, headaches and fatigue, can be prevented by getting the two-dose vaccine, which is about 90% effective in the elderly.

— Sara Moniuszko, USA Today, 26 Aug. 2026

Definition of prevent

Verb

Taylor pitched a career-high 2 2/3 scoreless relief innings and was credited with the win as the Sox defeated the Twins 7-4 in front of 28,140.

— LaMond Pope, Chicago Tribune, 29 Aug. 2026
The Senate Leadership Fund, a political committee controlled by Senate Majority Leader John Thune, has committed to spending $44 million in Georgia in hopes of defeating Ossoff.

— Tia Mitchell, AJC.com, 28 Aug. 2026

Definition of defeat

Browse Nearby Words

frumpy

frustrate

frustrated

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“Frustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frustrate. Accessed 2 Sep. 2026.

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Synonyms of frustrate

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