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frustrate

 - 5 dictionary results

frus⋅trate

  [fruhs-treyt] verb, -trat⋅ed, -trat⋅ing, adjective
Use frustrate in a Sentence
–verb (used with object)
1. to make (plans, efforts, etc.) worthless or of no avail; defeat; nullify: The student's indifference frustrated the teacher's efforts to help him.
2. to disappoint or thwart (a person): a talented woman whom life had frustrated.
–verb (used without object)
3. to become frustrated: His trouble is that he frustrates much too easily.
–adjective
4. frustrated.
Origin:
1400–50; late ME < L frustrātus, ptp. of frustrārī, v. deriv. of frustrā in vain

Related forms:
frus⋅trat⋅er, noun
frus⋅trat⋅ing⋅ly, adverb
frus⋅tra⋅tive  [fruhs-trey-tiv, -truh-] , adjective

Synonyms:
1. balk, foil, circumvent. See thwart.
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2009.
Cite This Source Link To frustrate
frus·trate   (frŭs'trāt')   
tr.v.   frus·trat·ed, frus·trat·ing, frus·trates

    1. To prevent from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart: A persistent wind frustrated my attempt to rake the lawn.

    2. To cause feelings of discouragement or bafflement in.

  2. To make ineffectual or invalid; nullify.


[Middle English frustraten, from Latin frūstrārī, frūstrāt-, from frūstrā, in vain.]
frus'trat'er n., frus'trat'ing·ly adv.
The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition
Copyright © 2009 by Houghton Mifflin Company.
Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.
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Word Origin & History

frustrate 
1447, from L. frustratus, pp. of frustrari "to deceive, disappoint, frustrate," from frustra (adv.) "in vain, in error," related to fraus "injury, harm."
Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2001 Douglas Harper
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Legal Dictionary

Main Entry: frus·trate
Pronunciation: 'fr&s-"trAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: frus·trat·ed; frus·trat·ing
: to make invalid or ineffectual : DEFEAT frustrated by rigid technical standards —Palmer v. Bath Iron Works Corporation, 559 Atlantic Reporter, Second Series 340 (1989)>
Merriam-Webster's Dictionary of Law, © 1996 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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Medical Dictionary

Main Entry: frus·trate
Pronunciation: 'fr&s-"trAt
Function: transitive verb
Inflected Forms: frus·trat·ed;frus·trat·ing
: to induce feelings of frustration in
Merriam-Webster's Medical Dictionary, © 2002 Merriam-Webster, Inc.
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