# frustrated

/ˈfɹəsˌtɹeɪtəd/ (US) · /fɹʌstɹˈeɪtɪd/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/frustrated
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. annoyed or dissatisfied

adjective · CEFR B1

feeling annoyed or less confident because you cannot achieve what you want.

For teachers: feeling or expressing distress and annoyance, especially because of inability to change or achieve something.

- He felt frustrated when the computer crashed for the third time today.
- The researchers grew increasingly frustrated as each subsequent trial failed to yield the results predicted by their initial hypothesis.

### 2. prevented from succeeding

adjective · CEFR B2 · Formal

describing a plan or effort that was blocked or stopped from happening.

For teachers: prevented from progressing, succeeding, or being fulfilled; often used of ambitions or attempts.

- The artist's frustrated dreams of fame eventually led him to teach instead.
- The coup was frustrated by a sudden lack of support from the military high command, leaving the conspirators isolated.

### 3. an unconsummated crime

adjective · CEFR C1 · Technical · Dialect

used in law to describe a crime where the person did everything to commit it, but it did not actually happen.

For teachers: pertaining to a stage of a crime where the perpetrator performs all acts of execution but the crime is not consummated due to causes independent of their will.

- He was charged with frustrated murder because the victim survived the attack.
- The court downgraded the charge from consummated to frustrated homicide, noting that the timely medical intervention prevented the fatal outcome intended by the assailant.

Usage: Commonly used in the legal system of the Philippines to distinguish between 'attempted' and 'consummated' crimes.

Teaching tip: This is a highly specific legal term in Philippine law; in general English, 'attempted' is the standard term for this concept.

## Examples

- I feel frustrated because the computer keeps crashing.
- The students became frustrated when the instructions for the final project were not clear.
- The legal team grew increasingly frustrated as the opposing counsel continued to file motions that seemed designed solely to delay the trial's commencement.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.