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
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Recent Examples of nonplussed
Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
After the Hateful Eight filmmaker accused author Suzanne Collins of copying the Japanese novel and movie Battle Royale when writing the first installment of her young adult sci-fi novel series, Hutcherson appeared nonplussed by Tarantino's remarks.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025
Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
So as the Rams prepare to face wintery and blustery conditions in their divisional round playoff game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field – a mere 90-minute drive from Mevis’ hometown in Warsaw, Indiana –the kicker is nonplussed about the weather report.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Adjective
And as Marty Di Bergi, the nonplussed documentarian following Tap on their American tour, Reiner is the movie’s marvelous straight man.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
After the Hateful Eight filmmaker accused author Suzanne Collins of copying the Japanese novel and movie Battle Royale when writing the first installment of her young adult sci-fi novel series, Hutcherson appeared nonplussed by Tarantino's remarks.
—Wesley Stenzel, Entertainment Weekly, 4 Dec. 2025
Verb
But killing the compact SUVs, especially the Escape, has left some industry analysts and car dealers nonplussed because the Escape has long been a top seller and there is no other vehicle in Ford's lineup to exactly replace it to keep Escape customers in the Ford family.
—Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
So as the Rams prepare to face wintery and blustery conditions in their divisional round playoff game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field – a mere 90-minute drive from Mevis’ hometown in Warsaw, Indiana –the kicker is nonplussed about the weather report.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonplussed
Adjective
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But much like with the Belichick snub, NFL fans were as perplexed about Kraft being left off the ballot as well.—
Ryan Gaydos,
FOXNews.com,
3 Feb. 2026
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The five-time major champion remains perplexed by the poa annua greens and settled for a 68 on the easier North to make the cut on the number.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
30 Jan. 2026
Verb
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The team embarrassed Canada, 5-0, in the preliminary round, and swept the North American neighbor in four straight Olympic tune-ups.—
Sean Gregory,
Time,
20 Feb. 2026
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The case has deeply embarrassed the royal family, especially his mother, who suffers from an incurable lung illness and who is torn between her role as mother and future queen.—
CBS News,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Emotional rollercoasters for baffled European allies.—
Nick Paton Walsh,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
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During the latest hearing in the case, Young repeatedly seemed baffled that the country’s top leaders would attempt to implement such a policy.—
Dallas Morning News,
Dallas Morning News,
23 Jan. 2026
Verb
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These earrings are often confused by a pair of sapphire and diamond earrings once owned and worn by Princess Diana—which Kate also wears from time to time.—
Rachel Burchfield,
InStyle,
23 Feb. 2026
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According to the department, a CCPD officer quickly found the woman confused and cold, but otherwise unharmed.—
Christa Swanson,
CBS News,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
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Olivier tried successfully to get the reader to understand how a gentle, pacific young man could come to kill more than a thousand people, and so capturing the tone and empathetic portrayal not only of Simo Häyhä and his colleagues but also of the often-bewildered Russian soldiers was essential.—
Erik Pedersen,
Oc Register,
30 Jan. 2026
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The usually positive Gauff went negative, lacked energy and seemed bewildered and overwhelmed.—
Merlisa Lawrence Corbett,
Forbes.com,
27 Jan. 2026
Verb
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Why does Self sound flustered with the situation after games, then flustered with the people talking about the situation in between games?—
Joe Rexrode,
New York Times,
14 Feb. 2026
-
At one point in the first half, a Utah ball handler couldn’t get past Bidunga to drive to the basket, and while flustered, threw the ball backward to a teammate.—
Shreyas Laddha,
Kansas City Star,
7 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonplussed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussed. Accessed 27 Feb. 2026.
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