Are you frustrated or angry?
What’s the difference between these two emotions?
In today’s episode, Lindsay and Michelle answer a listener question about this.
They dive into the interesting subtle differences between the adjectives ‘frustrated’ and ‘angry.’
Find out today how to use these two words in your English conversations.
Do you get angry?
Michelle asks Lindsay if she gets angry a lot.
Lindsay mentions that she does not get angry often but easily gets frustrated.
She finds that if she doesn’t meditate she will get frustrated more quickly.
Today’s episode is inspired by a listener’s question about the words ‘angry’ and ‘frustrated.’
Learning about the differences between words will definitely bring your fluency level to a higher level.
Here is the question:
Hi, Lindsey, I have a question what is the difference between anger and frustration? I think frustration goes with goals, I mean like, you cannot achieve what you want to achieve and anger goes with people like when somebody trying to annoy you. Is that right?
Sami
This is a great specific question.
You can check out similar episodes that will give you more learnings about today’s topic.
Go ahead and listen to AEE 755: 3 Steps to Deal with Angry Native Speakers in English.
Angry or frustrated?
As per the dictionary, ‘anger’ is a strong feeling of annoyance, displeasure, or hostility.
On the other hand, ’frustration’ is defined as a feeling of being upset.
It means being annoyed, especially because of the inability to change or achieve something.
This is felt by all of us.
Sami’s distinction is correct that the key difference between the two is the inability to change or achieve something.
Michelle asks Lindsay if she’s always angry when she’s frustrated.
Lindsay responds that you may think that they are almost the same, but anger sounds more general, and frustration is a little more specific.
Here are some examples for you to easily catch the difference between angry and frustrated:
Example #1:
- I was frustrated when I lost my phone for the second time.
- I was angry when I lost my phone for the second time.
Comparing the two, the word ‘frustrated’ fits best because in this situation it doesn’t need to be a strong emotion.
You could say ‘angry’ if the problem was caused by someone.
Example #2:
- She was frustrated when she couldn’t hit the high note, but she worked hard over several weeks, and now she can do it with no problems!
- She was angry when she couldn’t hit the high note, but she worked hard over several weeks, and now she can do it with no problems!
In this example, you would see that ‘frustrated’ is better used in this example because of the non-achievement of a goal.
Example #3:
- I was frustrated when I stubbed my toe for the second time in a week.
- I was angry when I stubbed my toe for the second time in a week.
You can interchange ‘angry’ and ‘frustrated’ in these examples.
Stubbing your toe is very painful and you can really get angry at the pain you feel.
Example #4:
- I was angry when my boss didn’t think I was the one who did the project.
- I was frustrated when my boss didn’t think I was the one who did the project.
As in the previous examples, ‘angry’ and ‘frustrated’ are interchangeable here as well.
Angry can be an immediate strong emotion that is reasonable to feel in this situation.
It can also be frustrating because you are annoyed that it happened.
Example #5:
- Don’t be angry if I can’t make it, okay? I told you I might have to work.
- Don’t be frustrated if I can’t make it okay? I told you I might have to work.
In this example, ‘angry’ is much more appropriate.
Frustration seems more like the word annoyed or irritated, while angry is the emotion of feeling mad.
You can have both emotions tied together, or it can make sense that one word better describes the emotion.
Roleplay
Lindsay and Michelle share a roleplay to help you understand the difference between ‘angry’ and ‘frustrated’ in a conversation.
In this scenario, Lindsay is trying to get her computer to work.
Lindsay: Ugh this won’t turn on! I’m so FRUSTRATED!
Michelle: Now, don’t get ANGRY Lindsay, I’ll help you.
Lindsay: I’m not ANGRY, I’m just tired of dealing with technology that doesn’t work.
Michelle: I hear you. I get FRUSTRATED with tech too, sometimes.
Takeaway
The words ‘angry’ and ‘frustrated’ can be very confusing.
Though these have similar meaning, they can be used in different situations.
It clarifies meaning to use the right word in English.
When being specific with your emotions, you will be better understood.
This makes building a relationship easier and better.
Learning to communicate how you feel can make the connection stronger.
What other words are interchangeable?
Share one in the comments below.
