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Prepositions after adjectives

Frustrated with, at, by, about or in?

Frustrated with is the most common pattern. By, at, and about are also used in specific contexts. In is usually part of a larger phrase rather than a direct complement.

Quick answer

Which preposition follows frustrated?

Use frustrated with for dissatisfaction with a person or situation. Use frustrated by for the cause of frustration, frustrated at for reactions to events, and frustrated about for worries or disappointments. Frustrated in usually appears with an activity or process.

She's frustrated with her computer.
We were frustrated by the delays.
He felt frustrated at the decision.
I'm frustrated about the lack of progress.

Choose the pattern by meaning

These forms are not interchangeable. Choose the construction by meaning, not by which preposition appears most often.

1
frustrated with + person/thing

Feeling dissatisfaction

Use frustrated with for ongoing problems or dissatisfaction.

They are frustrated with the service.
I'm frustrated with myself today.
2
frustrated by + cause

Naming the cause of frustration

Use frustrated by to focus on what created the frustration.

She was frustrated by the constant noise.
We felt frustrated by the slow response.
3
frustrated at + event/result

Reacting negatively to something

Frustrated at is used for reactions to situations, decisions, or outcomes.

He seemed frustrated at the final result.
They were frustrated at the misunderstanding.
4
frustrated about + situation

Feeling upset or concerned

Use frustrated about when discussing worries, problems, or disappointing situations.

I'm frustrated about the delays.
She felt frustrated about her lack of time.
5
frustrated in + activity

Experiencing difficulty in an activity

Frustrated in is less common and usually refers to difficulty within a process or role.

He became frustrated in his attempts to improve.
They felt frustrated in their search for answers.

See the difference in context

The same subject can take different constructions because each sentence answers a different question.

Construction
Example
Meaning
frustrated with
I'm frustrated with the software.
dissatisfied with someone or something
frustrated by
She was frustrated by the delays.
showing the cause of frustration
frustrated at
He was frustrated at the outcome.
reacting negatively to an event or result
frustrated about
They're frustrated about the situation.
upset or concerned about something
frustrated in
She felt frustrated in her efforts to help.
having difficulty within an activity or process

Common mistakes

Some combinations appear in real text but do not mean what learners often assume.

Using with and by interchangeably

With often focuses on dissatisfaction, while by highlights the cause.

✕ He was frustrated with the sudden power cut. ✓ He was frustrated by the sudden power cut.

Using in without a clear activity

Frustrated in usually needs an activity, effort, or role.

✕ She was frustrated in the manager. ✓ She was frustrated with the manager.

Using about for direct causes

About often refers to concerns or situations, not immediate causes.

✕ We were frustrated about the loud noise. ✓ We were frustrated by the loud noise.

Using at with people

Frustrated at is more natural with events or results than with people.

✕ I'm frustrated at my colleague. ✓ I'm frustrated with my colleague.

Quick practice

Choose the expression that matches the intended meaning.

1. She is frustrated ___ the constant delays.
2. I'm frustrated ___ my internet connection.
3. They felt frustrated ___ the final decision.

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Frequently asked questions

Is frustrated with the most common pattern?

Yes. It is widely used for dissatisfaction with people, situations, or things.

What is the difference between frustrated by and frustrated with?

By emphasizes the cause of frustration, while with focuses on the object of dissatisfaction.

Can I use frustrated in?

Yes, but it is less common and usually refers to difficulties within an activity, effort, or role.

face-to-face-with-in-at-for, to "fair to" or "fair in"? faithful to, in, of, with or for? falling of, in, out, into or off? "false in" or "false to"? famed for, as, in or throughout? familiar with, to, from or in? famous for, in, of, by or as? fanatical about, in, as, for or of? "fantastic for" or "fantastic in"? far from, in, to, for or with? fascinating to, about, in, for or as?

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