frustrating
Making you sigh
Frustrating describes something that causes feelings of annoyance, disappointment, or defeat, typically because efforts to achieve a goal are being blocked or thwarted.
A frustrating experience is one where progress feels impossible despite continued attempts: The most frustrating part was watching my edits disappear every time the page refreshed.
The word applies equally to minor daily irritations and to deeply discouraging situations that test one's patience over time.
Causing mild frustration
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- infuriatingCausing extreme anger
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
- maddeningCausing extreme frustration
vexing · galling · irksome · bothersome · pesky · grating · nagging · provoking
Hard to accomplish
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
- confoundingCausing surprise or confusion
- puzzlingCausing confusion or bewilderment
maddening · impossible · insurmountable · intractable · unsolvable · problematic · vexing · troublesome
Destroying confidence or hope
- dishearteningCausing loss of hope
- dispiritingCausing loss of enthusiasm
- demotivatingReducing willingness to try
- deflatingReleasing contained gas
defeating · crushing · disappointing · disillusioning · disenchanting · dejecting · dampening · daunting
Unchangingly dull
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
- mind-numbingExtremely tedious or monotonous
- tiresomeCausing boredom or annoyance
- wearisomeCausing fatigue through monotony
plodding · drudging · laborious · time-consuming · drawn-out · interminable · endless · painstaking
Creating obstacles to progress
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- impedingBlocking forward motion
- thwartingObstructing intended outcomes
- stymyingBlocking or frustrating efforts
hampering · obstructing · stalling · stonewalling · deadlocking · bottlenecking · gridlocking · derailing
Intensely excessive in force
- pressuringExerting influence to compel
- nerve-wrackingCausing extreme anxiety
- tenseStrained or nervous
- strainingExerting intense effort
agonizing · distressing · upsetting · worrying · draining · exhausting · burnout · taxing
irritating
Causing mild frustration
- aggravatingCausing irritation or worsening
- infuriatingCausing extreme anger
- exasperatingIntensely irritating
maddening · vexing · galling · irksome · bothersome · pesky · grating · nagging · provoking · nettlesome
challenging
Hard to accomplish
- bafflingImpossible to understand
- perplexingCausing mental confusion
- confoundingCausing surprise or confusion
puzzling · maddening · impossible · insurmountable · intractable · unsolvable · problematic · vexing · troublesome · convoluted
demoralizing
Destroying confidence or hope
- dishearteningCausing loss of hope
- dispiritingCausing loss of enthusiasm
- demotivatingReducing willingness to try
deflating · defeating · crushing · disappointing · disillusioning · disenchanting · dejecting · dampening · daunting · dismaying
monotonous
Unchangingly dull
- repetitiveMarked by recurrence
- mind-numbingExtremely tedious or monotonous
- tiresomeCausing boredom or annoyance
wearisome · plodding · drudging · laborious · time-consuming · drawn-out · interminable · endless · painstaking · slow
hindering
Creating obstacles to progress
- blockingImpeding forward progress
- impedingBlocking forward motion
- thwartingObstructing intended outcomes
stymying · hampering · obstructing · stalling · stonewalling · deadlocking · bottlenecking · gridlocking · derailing · sabotaging
overwhelming
Intensely excessive in force
- pressuringExerting influence to compel
- nerve-wrackingCausing extreme anxiety
- tenseStrained or nervous
straining · agonizing · distressing · upsetting · worrying · draining · exhausting · burnout · taxing · frazzling
- emotional reactionsinspiring, moving, touching, heartwarming, chilling
- interferenceinterfering, meddling, intruding, butting in, obstructing
- irritatingannoying, aggravating, bothersome, exasperating, galling
- adjectivesbig, urgent, amazing, temporary, bold
- exhaustingdraining, taxing, tiring, exhausting, fatiguing
- discouragementdiscouragement, dejection, defeatism, disappointment, letdown
frustratingsatisfying
Producing fulfillment or pleasure
gratifying · fulfilling · pleasing · delightful · rewarding
frustratingfacilitating
Making something simpler
enabling · straightforward · effortless · easy · smooth
frustratingcalming
Inducing a settled state
soothing · relaxing · pacifying · tranquilizing · reassuring
- sexual frustrationUnrelieved erotic tension