FRUSTRATING

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does frustrating mean? 

• FRUSTRATING (adjective)
  The adjective FRUSTRATING has 2 senses:

1. discouraging by hindering

2. preventing realization or attainment of a desire

  Familiarity information: FRUSTRATING used as an adjective is rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• FRUSTRATING (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Discouraging by hindering

Similar:

discouraging (depriving of confidence or hope or enthusiasm and hence often deterring action)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Preventing realization or attainment of a desire

Synonyms:

frustrating; frustrative; thwarting

Similar:

preventative; preventive (tending to prevent or hinder)

 Context examples 

Getting a diagnosis can be frustrating and stressful.

(Autoimmune Diseases, NIH)

It's frustrating to be unable to hear well enough to enjoy talking with friends or family.

(Hearing Disorders and Deafness, NIH: National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders)

I know Mercury retrograde can be frustrating, but we are all in the same boat with the trickster’s delays and miscommunications.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The possibility that intermediate mass black holes exist but are currently hidden from our view is both tantalizing and frustrating, according to Deidre Shoemaker of Georgia Tech, a co-author of the paper.

(Observing 'black hole symphony' using gravitational wave astronomy, National Science Foundation)

Uranus may make you feel ready to bolt from a job you’ve been unhappy with or a professional situation that has become restrictive or frustrating.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

I know it must be frustrating to have to stop, look, and listen, and then be conservative until you see which way the wind is blowing.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Last month, Mars’ little brother Mercury was retrograde, messing things up like Wrecker Ralph, but this month, you will have an open road, without any of the frustrating delays and aggravations you experienced in November.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Mercury has been retrograde since February 16, but you began to feel the frustrating slowdowns that Mercury is known to bring as early as two weeks ahead—that would have been February 2—so last month you may have felt that with every two steps forward, you had to take one step back.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)