# frustrating

/ˈfɹəsˌtɹeɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /fɹʌstɹˈeɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/frustrating
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. annoying and difficult

adjective · CEFR B2

making you feel annoyed or impatient because you cannot do what you are trying to do.

For teachers: causing feelings of annoyance, discouragement, or impatience through the obstruction of one's efforts or expectations.

- It is very frustrating when the internet stops working in the middle of a meeting.
- The most frustrating aspect of the bureaucratic process was the lack of clear communication regarding which documents were actually required.

### 2. preventing or annoying

verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

the '-ing' form of the verb 'frustrate', used to show the action of stopping someone's plans.

For teachers: the present participle of 'frustrate', used in continuous tenses to denote the act of thwarting or preventing a plan or desire.

- The heavy rain was frustrating our plans to have a picnic in the park.
- By constantly changing the regulations, the government was effectively frustrating the efforts of small businesses to expand into international markets.

Usage: As a verb, it often takes a direct object representing the plan or person being blocked.

## Examples

- It is frustrating when the internet is slow.
- Trying to assemble the furniture without the correct tools was a frustrating experience that took all afternoon.
- The most frustrating aspect of the bureaucratic process was not the delay itself, but the lack of clear communication regarding which documents were actually required.

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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.