Frustration: meaning, definitions and examples

Use when someone feels blocked or unable to achieve something despite their efforts.

• She felt intense frustration when her computer crashed in the middle of her project.
• His frustration grew as the deadline approached with no solution in sight.

Use when someone feels slightly irritated or bothered by something minor.

• She expressed her annoyance when the meeting was delayed again.
• His constant humming was a source of annoyance to everyone in the office.

Use when someone feels a little bit more than annoyed, often by repetitive or ongoing issues.

• Her irritation grew with each interruption during her presentation.
• The constant noise from the construction site was a source of great irritation.

Use when someone feels strong emotion because they are upset or feel wronged.

• His anger was evident when he found out his proposal was rejected.
• She couldn't hide her anger when she was blamed for something she didn't do.

This word is used when someone feels upset or annoyed because they are unable to achieve something or because a situation is not going as planned.

• She felt a wave of frustration when her computer crashed again.
• His repeated failures in the task led to mounting frustration.

This word is used to describe a feeling of sadness because something did not happen as expected or someone did not meet your expectations.

• She felt deep disappointment when she didn't get the job.
• His absence from the event caused a lot of disappointment among the guests.

This term is often employed to describe a sense of annoyance or irritation, typically due to small, ongoing problems. It may also imply that the situation is getting worse.

• The constant noise from the construction site was a source of aggravation.
• His rude comments only added to the aggravation of the situation.

This word is used to express a strong feeling of annoyance or irritation, usually because someone has been trying to deal with something difficult for a long time.

• She threw up her hands in exasperation after trying to assemble the furniture for hours.
• He sighed in exasperation when he realized he had to redo the entire project.

Use when someone feels upset or annoyed because something is not happening as they want or expect.

• She felt frustration with the slow progress of her project
• His repeated mistakes led to great frustration

Use when someone feels mild to moderate annoyance or dissatisfaction, often towards a person or their actions. It can sometimes carry a formal tone.

• He expressed his displeasure at the rude service
• Her displeasure was evident when she saw the untidy room

Use when someone is unhappy or not satisfied with a situation or condition, often related to larger societal or workplace issues.

• The workers' discontent grew due to the unfair working conditions
• There was widespread discontent with the new government policies

Use when someone is not happy with the quality or performance of something. It can be used in various contexts from products and services to personal outcomes.

• She voiced her dissatisfaction with the meal
• There is growing dissatisfaction among customers about the new product