frustrate Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. verb hinder or prevent (the efforts, plans, or desires) of
    thwart; bilk; cross; baffle; foil; spoil; queer; scotch.
    • What ultimately frustrated every challenger was Ruth's amazing September surge
    • foil your opponent
  2. verb treat cruelly
    bedevil; rag; crucify; dun; torment.
    • The children tormented the stuttering teacher

WordNet

Frus"trate adjective
Etymology
L. frustratus, p. p. of frustrare, frustrari, to deceive, frustrate, fr. frustra in vain, witout effect, in erorr, prob. for frudtra and akin to fraus, E. fraud.
Definitions
  1. Vain; ineffectual; useless; unprofitable; null; voil; nugatory; of no effect. "Our frustrate search." Shak.
Frus"trate transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Frustrated ; present participle & verbal noun Frustrating
Definitions
  1. To bring to nothing; to prevent from attaining a purpose; to disappoint; to defeat; to baffle; as, to frustrate a plan, design, or attempt; to frustrate the will or purpose.
    Shall the adversary thus obtain His end and frustrate thine ? Milton.
  2. To make null; to nullifly; to render invalid or of no effect; as, to frustrate a conveyance or deed. Syn. -- To balk; thwart; foil; baffle; defeat.

Webster 1913