Nonplussed

/nɒnˈplʌst/ · adjective

Meaning

Unsure how to act or respond; bewildered, perplexed..

Definitions by Sense

1. Unsure how to act or respond; bewildered, perplexed.
2. (chiefly US, informal, nonstandard) Unaffected, unfazed; unimpressed.
3. simple past and past participle of nonplus

Example Sentences

[N]ote the honeſt Quaker vvas nonpluſſed, and greatly ſurprized at that Queſtion.

I could not discern what she meant, and I would not ask her: I was nonplussed.

For the nonce he was rather nonplussed but inasmuch as the duty plainly devolved upon him to take some measures on the subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned.

You couldn’t have told it from my manner, but I was feeling more than a bit nonplussed. The spectacle before me was enough to nonplus anyone.

In the opposite direction the allowance of 103 min. for the 83.8 miles from Waterloo to Salisbury, which has remained untouched since the worst period in the war, when it included a Woking stop that long since has been excised, was another timing that left drivers completely nonplussed at times as to how to fill it out.

"I regard Dean [W. P.] Baddeley's gambling activities with embarrassment and dismay," said Anglican dean of Melbourne S. Barton Babbage. […] The Rev. Baddeley remained nonplussed. "I don't intend to make a habit of going to the races but I feel clergymen should mix as our Lord did with all walks of life," Dr. Baddeley said.

And while many of us might be a little taken aback if Mom showed up at our offices, Secrist is utterly nonplussed, even happy about it.

One cannot help but wonder how the unnecessary death of 10 men sat on [John Charles] Fremont's conscience. From all appearances, he seemed nonplussed and never was remorseful or contrite.

Synonyms for nonplussed

Antonyms for nonplussed

Related Words

Word Forms

• more nonplussed
• most nonplussed
• non-plussed

Usage Notes

Choose a synonym only when it preserves the intended meaning, tone, and grammar of the full sentence.

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