out of frustration

USAGE SUMMARY

"out of frustration" is a correct and usable phrase in written English.
You can use it when you are describing a situation in which someone is acting or feeling frustrated. For example: John slammed the door shut out of frustration after his team lost the match.

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

58 human-written examples

When I got home I cried out of frustration.

Huffington Post

"It grew out of frustration," he said.

The New York Times

Others do it out of frustration.

The New York Times

I cry out of frustration, too.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

That's just borne out of frustration.

The Guardian - Sport

Was Portis speaking out of frustration?

The New York Times

She started writing out of frustration.

The New York Times

They often say things out of frustration.

The New York Times - Sports

Many may rejoin armed groups out of frustration.

The Economist

So I was a punk out of frustration.

The New York Times

Klinsmann called it a "reaction out of frustration".

The New York Times - Sports

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "out of frustration" to clearly convey that an action or decision was made as a result of feeling annoyed, blocked, or unable to progress. For example, "He quit his job out of frustration with the lack of opportunities."

Common error

Avoid using "out of frustration" when the action is driven by anger, sadness, or other emotions. Ensure the primary motivator is a sense of being blocked or unable to achieve a goal. Instead of "He yelled out of frustration", consider "He yelled out of anger" if anger was the driving emotion.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "out of frustration" functions as an adverbial phrase, modifying a verb to explain the reason or motivation behind an action. Ludwig highlights its use to explain why someone acted or felt a certain way, as shown in the examples.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

65%

Wiki

15%

Science

10%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "out of frustration" is a common and grammatically correct way to describe actions motivated by feeling blocked or annoyed, as confirmed by Ludwig. It functions as an adverbial phrase, clarifying the reason behind an action. While versatile, it's essential to distinguish it from motivations like anger or sadness. The most frequent context for this phrase is news and media, per Ludwig's examples. Considering alternatives such as "due to irritation" or "prompted by exasperation" can help refine the specific emotion being conveyed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

prompted by exasperation

Emphasizes the state of being extremely annoyed, which leads to a specific action.

born of exasperation

Emphasizes that something was created or initiated because of extreme annoyance.

due to irritation

Focuses more on the feeling of being annoyed, rather than the broader feeling of being blocked from a goal.

because of annoyance

Highlights the feeling of slight anger and impatience.

motivated by dissatisfaction

Points to a general feeling of unhappiness or discontent as the driving force.

driven by resentment

Suggests a deeper, more prolonged sense of bitterness and injustice.

in a fit of pique

Suggests a sudden outburst of bad temper, often over a minor annoyance.

stemming from helplessness

Focuses on the feeling of being unable to change a situation, leading to actions.

as a result of discouragement

Highlights the loss of confidence and enthusiasm as the cause.

on impulse

Highlights actions based on a sudden, strong desire, without planning.

FAQs

How can I use "out of frustration" in a sentence?

You can use "out of frustration" to explain the reason someone did something because they were feeling annoyed or unable to achieve something. For example, "She started writing "out of frustration" after a stretch of unsatisfying projects."

What phrases are similar to "out of frustration"?

Similar phrases include "due to irritation", "prompted by exasperation", or "because of annoyance". The specific phrase you choose depends on the nuance you want to convey.

Is it ever incorrect to use "out of frustration"?

It's incorrect to use "out of frustration" if the action wasn't driven by feeling blocked or unable to progress. If the action stems from anger, sadness, or another emotion, a different phrase would be more appropriate.

What's the difference between "out of frustration" and "out of anger"?

"Out of frustration" implies a sense of being blocked or unable to achieve something, whereas "out of anger" implies a strong feeling of displeasure or hostility. While frustration can lead to anger, they are distinct emotions and should be described accurately. Using the right phrase will help the reader or listener understand the actor's motivations.