frustrating

adjective

frus·​trat·​ing ˈfrə-ˌstrā-tiŋ How to pronounce frustrating (audio)
Synonyms of frustratingnext
: 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

Examples of frustrating in a Sentence

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.
For some non-economists who understand health insurance only as customers, the possibility that the rule changes of HR1 might not pay off is frustrating. Andre Mouchard, Oc Register, 4 Apr. 2026 Applying a foam or solution through longer hair can be frustrating and may leave residue that interferes with styling. Nicole Hernandez, USA Today, 3 Apr. 2026 That led to more Transportation Security Administration agents calling out from work, causing frustrating security lines at some of the nation's biggest airports. ABC News, 2 Apr. 2026 The staging is equally frustrating. Emily Nussbaum, New Yorker, 2 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for frustrating

Word History

First Known Use

1837, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of frustrating was in 1837

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Cite this Entry

“Frustrating.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/frustrating. Accessed 5 Apr. 2026.

Kids Definition

frustrating

adjective
: producing frustration
a frustrating delay
frustratingly adverb

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