frustrated

Frustrated is an adjective describing a person, situation, or reaction that results from being hindered, blocked, or thwarted in reaching a goal or satisfying a need. The feeling typically combines disappointment, irritation, and a sense of helplessness. In everyday use, someone can be described as frustrated by delays, conflicting demands, or unclear instructions. The term can also describe a state resulting from repeated obstacles, not simply a single moment of annoyance.

Usage and nuance: Frustration is the noun form of the emotion, while frustrated refers to someone experiencing it or a situation that provokes it. It is often contrasted with related emotions such as anger, disappointment, or irritation. Frustration tends to arise when progress toward a goal is blocked or when expectations are unmet, even if the outcome is not harmful.

Causes and contexts: Common sources include bureaucratic obstacles, insufficient resources, ambiguous rules, or persistent failure to achieve desired results. It can occur in work, study, relationships, or daily tasks. Prolonged frustration can affect motivation, concentration, and mood, potentially leading to stress or burnout if not managed.

Coping and responses: Strategies include problem-solving to remove the obstacle, seeking help, reframing the situation, taking breaks, and setting more attainable goals. In some contexts, frustration is linked to the frustration-aggression dynamic in psychological theories, though expressions vary widely by individual and culture.

Etymology: Frustrated derives from the Latin frustratus, a past participle of frustrare, meaning to disappoint or deceive. The English usage dates to the early modern period. Related terms include frustration, frustrate, and frustratedly.