Frustrated vs. Angry — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Maham Liaqat — Updated on May 2, 2024
Frustrated involves feeling thwarted or helpless, focusing on internal emotions, while angry entails a stronger, more outward reaction to provocation or injustice.
Difference Between Frustrated and Angry
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Frustration generally arises from encountering obstacles that prevent one from achieving a goal, leading to feelings of helplessness or defeat. On the other hand, anger is typically a response to perceived wrongs or injustice, often accompanied by a desire for retaliation or correction.
While frustration is more about internal feelings of being stuck or impeded, anger manifests more externally, possibly leading to aggressive behavior or confrontational actions.
Frustration can be seen as a precursor to anger; it's what one might feel when initial efforts are thwarted. Whereas, anger can escalate from frustration when the individual blames someone or something for their hindrance.
In frustration, the emotional focus is on the inability to progress, which doesn’t necessarily involve another party’s direct influence. Whereas in anger, there’s often an identifiable external target or cause of the emotional response.
Frustration might simmer quietly within a person, sometimes without any significant outward signs. On the other hand, anger is usually more visible and marked by expressions such as frowning, yelling, or physical gestures.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Emotional response to interruption or failure
Emotional response to perceived wrong or injustice
Expression
Often internal, subtle
Often external, evident
Resulting Behavior
Generally passive, may withdraw or give up
Generally active, may confront or attack
Trigger
Obstacles in personal goals or tasks
Actions of others, unfair treatments
Emotional Intensity
Lower, more about disappointment
Higher, can include hostility
Compare with Definitions
Frustrated
Feeling of being upset or annoyed as a result of being unable to change or achieve something.
She felt frustrated after her computer crashed for the third time.
Angry
Feeling or showing strong annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.
He was angry when he found out his lunch had been stolen.
Frustrated
Emotional state resulting from blocked or hindered efforts.
He was frustrated by the constant interruptions.
Angry
Emotional state characterized by antagonism towards someone or something perceived as deliberately harmful.
She became angry when she saw the mess made in her room.
Frustrated
Experience of dissatisfaction, especially from unresolved problems.
Frustrated with the slow progress, she decided to take a break.
Angry
Intense displeasure or rage often showing in behavior.
He left the room in an angry huff.
Frustrated
Impeded progress towards a goal leading to feelings of defeat.
The blocked road left them frustrated and late for the meeting.
Angry
Resulting from injustice, insult, or frustration.
Their unjust critique made her angry and determined to prove them wrong.
Frustrated
Result of facing repeated failures or impediments.
They grew increasingly frustrated with each failed attempt to start the engine.
Angry
Ready to retaliate or confront.
The angry customer demanded a refund immediately.
Frustrated
Feeling or expressing distress and annoyance resulting from an inability to change or achieve something
Young people get frustrated with the system
Angry
Feeling or showing strong annoyance, displeasure, or hostility; full of anger
Why are you angry with me?
I'm angry that she didn't call me
Frustrated
(of a person) unable to follow or be successful in a particular career
A frustrated actor
Angry
Feeling or showing anger; incensed or enraged
Angry at my boss.
Angry with her.
Frustrated
To prevent (someone) from accomplishing a purpose or fulfilling a desire; thwart
A persistent wind frustrated me as I tried to rake the leaves.
Angry
Indicative of or resulting from anger
An angry silence.
Frustrated
To cause feelings of discouragement, annoyance, or lack of fulfillment in
She was frustrated by his inability to remember her birthday.
Angry
Having a menacing aspect; threatening
Angry clouds on the horizon.
Frustrated
To prevent from coming to fruition or fulfillment; render ineffectual
Frustrated his ambition.
Frustrated their scheme for reform.
Angry
Chiefly New England & Midland US Inflamed and painful
An angry sore.
Frustrated
Simple past tense and past participle of frustrate
Angry
Displaying or feeling anger.
His face became angry.
An angry mob started looting the warehouse.
Frustrated
Foiled, stopped, disappointed.
Angry
(said about a wound or a rash) inflamed and painful.
The broken glass left two angry cuts across my arm.
Frustrated
Suffering from frustration; dissatisfied, agitated, and/or discontent because one is unable to perform an action or fulfill a desire.
Angry
Dark and stormy, menacing.
Angry clouds raced across the sky.
Frustrated
(of a felony or serious criminal offense) Imperfect form of execution of a crime in that, despite performing all the acts that should produce it, the crime fails to be consummated.
A frustrated robbery may financially cripple the company or lead it to recover; a frustrated homicide or murder leaves the victim injured or wounded, not killed.
Angry
Troublesome; vexatious; rigorous.
God had provided a severe and angry education to chastise the forwardness of a young spirit.
Frustrated
Disappointingly unsuccessful;
Disappointed expectations and thwarted ambitions
Their foiled attempt to capture Calais
Many frustrated poets end as pipe-smoking teachers
His best efforts were thwarted
Angry
Inflamed and painful, as a sore.
Angry
Touched with anger; under the emotion of anger; feeling resentment; enraged; - followed generally by with before a person, and at before a thing.
Be not grieved, nor angry with yourselves.
Wherefore should God be angry at thy voice?
Angry
Showing anger; proceeding from anger; acting as if moved by anger; wearing the marks of anger; as, angry words or tones; an angry sky; angry waves.
Angry
Red.
Sweet rose, whose hue, angry and brave.
Angry
Sharp; keen; stimulated.
I never ate with angrier appetite.
Angry
Feeling or showing anger;
Angry at the weather
Angry customers
An angry silence
Sending angry letters to the papers
Angry
(of the elements) as if showing violent anger;
Angry clouds on the horizon
Furious winds
The raging sea
Angry
Severely inflamed and painful;
An angry sore
Common Curiosities
What primarily causes anger?
Anger is mostly triggered by external factors such as perceived injustices or provocations.
How can one differentiate between feeling frustrated and feeling angry?
Frustration is quieter, about being stuck or thwarted internally; anger is more about an external, visible response to a wrong.
What are common physical signs of anger?
Common signs include frowning, yelling, and gesturing aggressively.
How should one handle frustration?
Addressing the root cause of the obstacle or finding alternative paths can alleviate frustration.
What primarily causes frustration?
Frustration primarily arises from internal factors like blocked goals or personal failures.
Can frustration lead to anger?
Yes, frustration can evolve into anger if the underlying issues remain unresolved and are perceived as unjust.
Are the expressions of frustration and anger similar?
No, frustration tends to be more contained and internal, whereas anger is more likely to be expressed through outward aggression.
How should one handle anger?
Constructive communication and sometimes physical activity can help manage anger effectively.
Is it healthier to feel frustrated or angry?
Both emotions are natural, but how they are managed can determine their impact on health.
What are common physical signs of frustration?
Signs of frustration are subtler and may include sighing, withdrawing, or showing resignation.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Maham Liaqat
