Etymology From Middle English frustraten (“to prevent, disappoint, render useless”), from Latin frūstrātus, perfect passive participle of frūstrō (“to deceive”), see -ate (verb-forming suffix). Compare French frustrer.
1
To disappoint or defeat; to vex by depriving of something expected or desired.
It frustrates me to do all this work and then lose it all.
2
To hinder or thwart.
My clumsy fingers frustrate my typing efforts.
Perhaps it was the too-tooing of the youth on the coach horn which frustrated the proposal, and made it appear ludicrous rather than insultive to her ears.1895, Frank Frankfort Moore, chapter VI, in One Fair Daughter, volume 1, pages 234–235:
1 more example
With its far larger population, China’s economy will inevitably come to eclipse ours, but that is hardly a mortal threat. In climate change, the world faces a huge collective-action problem that will require global cooperation. According to this view, treating China like an adversary will only frustrate our own long-term goals.2019 October 9, Farhad Manjoo, “Dealing With China Isn’t Worth the Moral Cost”, in New York Times:
3
To cause stress or annoyance.
This test frustrates me because if I fail, it'll destroy my grade.
Etymology From Middle English frustrat (“prevented, disappointed, rendered useless”, adjective as well as past participle of frustraten (see Etymology 1)), from Latin frūstrātus, perfect passive participle of frūstrō (“to deceive”), see -ate (adjective-forming suffix).
1
Ineffectual; useless; fruitless.
Our frustrate search.c. 1596–1598 (date written), William Shakespeare, “The Merchant of Venice”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act III, scene i]:
In all eternity I had one chance One few years' term of gracious human life […] And this sole chance was frustrate from my birth A mockery, a delusion; […]1874, James Thomson, The City of Dreadful Night, volume XVI: