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.
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Recent Examples of nonplussed
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee were also nonplussed, and angry, when Gabbard appeared before them last month.
—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Adjective
As the girls leave, Romans turns his attention to his favorite visitor, grandson Henry, who is clearly accustomed to and entirely nonplussed by the animals surrounding him.
—
Dana O’Neil,
CNN Money,
2 May 2026
Members of the Senate Intelligence Committee were also nonplussed, and angry, when Gabbard appeared before them last month.
—
Shane Harris,
The Atlantic,
5 Apr. 2026
Verb
Nick Lapis, director of advocacy for Californians Against Waste, a nonprofit that helped push for the law, is nonplussed by industry protests.
—
Bloomberg,
Mercury News,
1 June 2026
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
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonplussed
Adjective
-
At the time, 95% of the folks working at our theater were either perplexed or disdainful of this project.
-
Olivia stops at an exhibit depicting two Minions, James and Henry (all the Minions are voiced by Coffin), and is perplexed when no one present appears to have heard of them, at least by name.
Verb
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At one point, the narrator, embarrassed by his own act of cruelty, gives a sobbing woman all his money and then leaves her alone in a hotel room.
-
The Chicago White Sox, a team many left for dead at the start of the year, embarrassed the Kansas City Royals Friday night, 22-1.
Adjective
-
Spotted hyenas long baffled naturalists.
-
Everyone looks pretty baffled at what Mwepu Ilunga has done, not least his team-mates.
Verb
-
Narcissism should never be confused with the healthy form of philautia, a unique Greek philosophy of self-love.
-
One workshop is a Mindful Archery class, not to be confused with her other course Meditative Archery, which involves Jungian journaling; and there’s a one-on-one archery session with spiritual guidance.
Adjective
-
Fido was fine, if a little bewildered, and in February 1973, the board lifted its book bans.
-
At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?
Verb
-
The Germans dominated the match after the break but struggled to break down Paraguay’s defense as the South Americans once again assumed the compact defending that had flustered Turkey and Australia in the opening group stage.
-
Proving he wasn't flustered, Gay judged length well, left the ball well, and picked his shots, especially against dangerous New Zealand quicks Will O'Rourke and Smith.
Cite this Entry
“Nonplussed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussed. Accessed 4 Jul. 2026.
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