Synonym Chooser

How does the verb frustrate differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of frustrate are baffle, balk, foil, and thwart. While all these words mean "to check or defeat another's plan or block achievement of a goal," frustrate implies making vain or ineffectual all efforts however vigorous or persistent.

frustrated attempts at government reform

When is baffle a more appropriate choice than frustrate?

The words baffle and frustrate can be used in similar contexts, but baffle implies frustration by confusing or puzzling.

baffled by the maze of rules and regulations

When could balk be used to replace frustrate?

In some situations, the words balk and frustrate are roughly equivalent. However, balk suggests the interposing of obstacles or hindrances.

officials felt that legal restrictions had balked their efforts to control crime

When might foil be a better fit than frustrate?

The words foil and frustrate are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, foil implies checking or defeating so as to discourage further effort.

foiled by her parents, he stopped trying to see her

In what contexts can thwart take the place of frustrate?

The meanings of thwart and frustrate largely overlap; however, thwart suggests frustration or checking by crossing or opposing.

the army thwarted his attempt at a coup

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of frustrate Grimes and Oubre got going and Draymond Green struggled, missing a pair of layups and getting frustrated with both his play and the officiating. Danny Emerman, The Mercury News, 3 Mar. 2025 Shah, a former BBC current affairs boss, is understood to be frustrated at the way in which the situation has been handled so far. Max Goldbart, Deadline, 3 Mar. 2025 Hulu left users frustrated as the streaming platform experienced widespread outages during the Oscars 2025. Colson Thayer, People.com, 3 Mar. 2025 Many Americans are frustrated with the twice-annual time changes, but no legislation has been passed to make daylight saving time permanent. Anthony Robledo, USA TODAY, 25 Feb. 2025 See All Example Sentences for frustrate
Recent Examples of Synonyms for frustrate
Verb
  • Besides, the Caribbean strife was thwarting trade and endangering American lives and livelihoods in the region. McKinley, sympathetic toward the rebels but not wanting war with Spain, dispatched a prominent Illinois trial lawyer to Cuba to study the situation and report back.
    Robert W. Merry, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 7 Mar. 2025
  • The latter, with hundreds of billions worth of military equipment from the U.S. and Europe, thwarted much of Russia’s incursion into Ukraine during the three-year war.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Trump wanted to discourage DEI efforts by corporations and others.
    Doug Ross, Chicago Tribune, 9 Mar. 2025
  • None of the other 23 states that allow initiatives, most in the Midwest and West, go so far out of their way to discourage them.
    Sun Sentinel Editorial Board, Sun Sentinel, 8 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • Keep clear of puddles - Driving through puddles or low rainwater areas can cause vehicles to hydroplane or skid out of control Maintain a safe distance from large vehicles - Trucks or buses can produce a water spray that hampers visibility.
    CA Weather Bot, Sacramento Bee, 6 Mar. 2025
  • This complexity hampers everything from vulnerability triage to compliance audits, ironically undermining the very protections these tools promise.
    Aviv Mussinger, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • That reluctance baffles Pérez and her colleague, Deputy Public Defender Amy Tao.
    CalMatters, The Mercury News, 27 Feb. 2025
  • Over the past few months, Bob Dylan has been baffling fans with surreal posts on his official social media platforms.
    Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 27 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Hamby noted older teens in high school should be mindful of behaviors that hinder their personal growth.
    Julianna Bragg, CNN, 8 Mar. 2025
  • Any broad shutdowns of missions, especially entire embassies, would hinder the work of large parts of the federal government and potentially compromise U.S. national security.
    arkansasonline.com, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • However, any individual who impedes law enforcement operations, potentially threatening the safety of law enforcement agents and subjects of their investigations, is subject to investigation and potential prosecution by the Department of Justice.
    Matt Robison, Newsweek, 25 Feb. 2025
  • Without such reform, unmanageable debt will continue to impede these countries from investing in domestic green industrial strategies or in other measures to prevent and respond to climate, health, and other emergencies.
    Mariana Mazzucato, Foreign Affairs, 25 Feb. 2025
Verb
  • Fortunately, there are treatments to help manage your symptoms, slow disease progression, and prevent organ damage.
    Lindsay Curtis, Health, 1 Mar. 2025
  • To prevent it from sliding, the brand recommends layering it over a rug pad for added stability.
    Clint Davis, People.com, 1 Mar. 2025
Verb
  • In the bantamweight main event, Song Yadong defeated former two-division champion Henry Cejudo via technical decision after an eye poke left Cejudo unable to continue.
    Trent Reinsmith, Forbes, 6 Mar. 2025
  • The Cardinals defeated the Washington Nationals in Tuesday's exhibition in Palm Beach, Florida.
    Chantz Martin, Fox News, 6 Mar. 2025

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Frustrate.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/frustrate. Accessed 13 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on frustrate

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!