then frustrating

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "then frustrating" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used to describe a situation or experience that follows a previous event and leads to feelings of frustration. Example: "The project started off smoothly, but then frustrating delays began to occur."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

3 human-written examples

Then frustrating.

The New York Times

"I couldn't pick up on a lot of the overlapping conversation going on," Mr. Harvard said in an interview late last month, adding, "I was like, 'I'm Billy — right there, right now.' It was funny, and then frustrating".

The New York Times

By raising and then frustrating expectations, the revolution created conditions for radicalization to thrive.

The New Yorker

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

53 human-written examples

Mr. Sprecher said he was in tears by then, frustrated that Mr. Hotton was still proclaiming his innocence.

The New York Times

Murray then frustrates Verdasco with his defence, chasing and batting his forehands back, and the Spaniard eventually mishits a forehand.

The Guardian - Sport

The reader assumes the protester is still speaking when they come to the second sentence and is confused then frustrated.

The Guardian

Rather than pump herself up and exude a love of the battle, Stephens got passive and then frustrated when Ivanovic took a short ball and rifled a winner.

The New York Times

He declined television interviews in the immediate aftermath and then, frustrated by a delay before the mandatory post-match press conference, stormed from the stage.

The Guardian - Sport

And so to the rest of his house, with Davis swinging a sledgehammer and then, frustrated by such modest damage, upgrading to a bulldozer.

The New Yorker

A generation of women, she says, "who grew up between the wars, who were educated into expectations, and who were then frustrated, sent back into the domestic world".

The Guardian - Books

Varun Chopra and Will Porterfield then frustrated Anderson and Chapple through a little luck but more skill, putting the tin lid on Watkinson's Easter.

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "then frustrating" to clearly indicate a sequence of events where initial progress or a positive state is followed by a frustrating situation. It's best used when the chronological order matters to the narrative.

Common error

Avoid using "then frustrating" if the frustration isn't a direct consequence of the preceding event. Ensure the 'then' accurately reflects a sequential relationship, not just a general association.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "then frustrating" functions as an adverbial modifier, indicating a sequence of events where frustration follows a previous action or state. Ludwig AI confirms its grammatical correctness.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

100%

Formal & Business

0%

Science

0%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "then frustrating" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a sequence where initial progress or a positive state is followed by frustration. While Ludwig AI confirms its validity, its occurrence is relatively rare, primarily appearing in news and media contexts. Alternative phrases like ""subsequently exasperating"" or ""later annoying"" may offer similar meaning, depending on the specific nuance desired. When using this phrase, ensure that the 'then' accurately reflects a chronological relationship to avoid misinterpretations.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

following which, frustrating

Adds a formal connective phrase before 'frustrating'.

subsequently exasperating

Emphasizes the exasperating nature of what follows, differing in intensity and word choice.

later annoying

Focuses on the annoying aspect that arises afterward, using simpler vocabulary.

progressively irritating

Emphasizes the gradual increase in irritation over time.

eventually disappointing

Highlights the disappointment resulting from a series of events, shifting the emotional focus.

becoming aggravating

Shifts from a sequence to a state of becoming, with 'aggravating' indicating a growing sense of annoyance.

in turn, irritating

Indicates a cause-and-effect relationship leading to irritation, offering a more formal tone.

thereafter vexing

Uses a more formal and less common term 'vexing' to describe something causing trouble after an initial event.

thereupon disheartening

Replaces "frustrating" with "disheartening", altering the precise nuance of the emotion experienced.

consequently provoking

Highlights that something provoke frustration

FAQs

How can I use "then frustrating" in a sentence?

You can use "then frustrating" to describe a situation where something initially goes well, but frustration arises afterward. For example, "The initial plan was successful, "then frustrating" delays began to plague the project".

What are some alternatives to "then frustrating"?

Alternatives include "subsequently exasperating", "later annoying", or "eventually disappointing", depending on the specific nuance you want to convey.

Is it always necessary to include "then" when describing a frustrating situation?

No, the necessity of "then" depends on whether you want to emphasize the chronological sequence. You could simply say "frustrating delays" if the sequence isn't crucial.

What's the difference between "then frustrating" and "subsequently frustrating"?

"Then frustrating" implies a more immediate sequence, while "subsequently frustrating" suggests that the frustration occurred at a later, potentially less directly connected, point in time.