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
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That was intentional, as a smiling Caballero admitted to enjoying the moment after the warning left him perplexed and agitated.
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Employees at Alliance for a Better Utah were equally perplexed.
Verb
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The case has generated intense international attention because of Hoiby's connection to the royal family, who have been embarrassed by it.
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But Americans don’t want to see the home team embarrassed.
Adjective
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Spotted hyenas long baffled naturalists.
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Everyone looks pretty baffled at what Mwepu Ilunga has done, not least his team-mates.
Verb
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It's called cognitive empathy, not to be confused with emotional empathy.
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So The Listeners — not to be confused with 2022’s The Listener starring Tessa Thompson and you in a voice role — is just now reaching the States.
Adjective
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At the risk of sounding less like a columnist and more like a bewildered bystander … what the heck happened?
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Urged by a call from Hugo to destroy her phone and flee Kansas City fast, before WARDEX can get to her, Margaret also hits the road, accompanied initially by a bewildered Jackson.
Verb
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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.
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On the witness stand, the teenager was reportedly combative and flustered by Jackson’s attorney Tom Mesereau, who attempted to poke holes in Gavin’s testimony and allegedly screamed at the boy throughout.
Cite this Entry
“Nonplussed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussed. Accessed 25 Jun. 2026.
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