variants
also nonplused
as in perplexed
faced with difficulty or uncertainty about what to say, think, or do
the self-possessed actress seemed uncharacteristically nonplussed after the director's harsh appraisal of her performance
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
variants
also nonplused
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress
I was nonplussed by his openly expressed admiration of me
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of nonplussed
Phil Hay, New York Times, 19 June 2025
The Russian isn’t heeding the president’s entreaties to stop the killing in Ukraine, and Mr. Trump is nonplussed.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Asked about Tkachuk and the verbal jousting with Nylander near the end of Game 4, Domi was nonplussed about the subject of chirping between teams.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Take TikTok user Taylor Hamm’s airport dancing video, for example, in which a nonplussed airport janitor directly walks through her frame.
—Francesca Street, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Adjective
Speaking after the game, Weah was completely nonplussed.
—Phil Hay, New York Times, 19 June 2025
The Russian isn’t heeding the president’s entreaties to stop the killing in Ukraine, and Mr. Trump is nonplussed.
—The Wall Street Journal, Twin Cities, 1 June 2025
Asked about Tkachuk and the verbal jousting with Nylander near the end of Game 4, Domi was nonplussed about the subject of chirping between teams.
—Pierre Lebrun, New York Times, 14 May 2025
Take TikTok user Taylor Hamm’s airport dancing video, for example, in which a nonplussed airport janitor directly walks through her frame.
—Francesca Street, CNN Money, 2 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonplussed
Adjective
-
Stitching the clip with a few seconds of footage of the parade singer’s breathless live rendition of the self-love anthem — performed in front of a gathering on the National Mall — Lizzo then cuts to a shot of herself staring pointedly at the camera, looking perplexed and disgusted.—
Hannah Dailey,
Billboard,
16 June 2025
-
Advertisement Advertisement Cole Palmer looked perplexed and frustrated as Donald Trump stood in front of him, smiling and clapping, even as FIFA President Gianni Infantino could be seen unsuccessfully urging the U.S. President to move aside so as not to obstruct the team’s celebrations.—
Miranda Jeyaretnam,
Time,
14 July 2025
Adjective
-
Olivia, bewildered and frightened, runs to the vast body of Tierra del Fuego to look for him.—
Jason Liwag,
Variety,
14 Aug. 2025
-
Whites, bewildered and self-righteous, would find their way to Reagan.—
CalMatters,
Mercury News,
8 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
Scientific experts who constantly monitor the Earth's rotation seem a bit baffled and amused that a few slightly more-speedy-than-normal spins this summer have captured the public's imagination.—
Nell Greenfieldboyce,
NPR,
22 July 2025
-
And finally, a baffled daughter-in-law shared that her mother-in-law took it upon herself to write directly on their back door—with a green pen.—
Cameron Schoppa
Alex Backus,
MSNBC Newsweek,
24 July 2025
Verb
-
Many people get confused by these forms which contain code and jargon that rarely offer a clear explanation of anything.—
Steve Weisman,
Forbes,
23 Dec. 2024
-
Not to be confused with DEI training, skill building is a way to help people improve their communication skills, negotiation style and overall understanding of relevant topics, all while leveling up professionally.—
Doug Melville,
Forbes,
21 Dec. 2024
Adjective
-
The New York Yankees are getting absolutely embarrassed by their arch-rival the Boston Red Sox on their own field pic.twitter.com/L8BewLKHPI — Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) August 23, 2025 What once looked like a dominant season from the Bronx Bombers is now headed toward an ultimate collapse.—
Andrew Wright,
MSNBC Newsweek,
23 Aug. 2025
-
The Democratic Party, which needs to win in much more conservative states to take power nationally, is sometimes embarrassed by California liberalism.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
22 Aug. 2025
Adjective
-
One is that the leader may have been caught by surprise and is flustered, out of their Window of Tolerance.—
Dr. Joel Rothaizer,
Forbes.com,
13 Aug. 2025
-
From the backfield that day, Burns watched and cheered as Carter flustered quarterback Russell Wilson.—
Charlotte Carroll,
New York Times,
1 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Nonplussed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussed. Accessed 27 Aug. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share