nonplussing 1 of 2

variants also nonplusing
Definition of nonplussingnext

nonplussing

2 of 2

verb

variants also nonplusing
present participle of nonplus

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonplussing
Adjective
  • The movie is hilarious, fun, disturbing, perplexing, exuberant, exhausting.
    Bilge Ebiri, Vulture, 12 Dec. 2025
  • The canon can already be described as a bewildering artistic menagerie, including a perplexing assessment of misandrism, body horror by Brian Yuzna, killer toys from the ’90s, and more.
    Alison Foreman, IndieWire, 11 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • The report reiterated concerns about seven situations, two of which have been on the list since 2007, including the bureaucracy’s chronic inability to successfully employ information technology — embarrassing for a state that is the global center for digital tools.
    Dan Walters, Oc Register, 8 Jan. 2026
  • An ever-growing pile of embarrassing legislative audits consistently reveals the persistent challenge the governor has with recruiting and retaining leaders with executive acumen.
    Torrey Snow, Baltimore Sun, 7 Jan. 2026
Adjective
  • Cellos and basses may be rumbling along on a frighteningly low melody, as the woodwinds are pecking like a riot in a chicken coop, while the high strings are sustaining a cluster of odd, disconcerting notes.
    Toria Sheffield, PEOPLE, 29 Dec. 2025
  • The macro view is more disconcerting.
    Mark Zeigler, San Diego Union-Tribune, 21 Dec. 2025
Verb
  • Perplexity’s image features photographs of people with some truly nightmarish distortions on its wall, while the placement of its sink is confusing and distracting.
    PC Magazine, PC Magazine, 25 Oct. 2025
  • This was out of respect for me, and also to avoid confusing the children.
    Judith Martin, Mercury News, 23 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • This story involves discussion about suicide that some readers may find upsetting.
    Allison Gordon, CNN Money, 6 Nov. 2025
  • This was one of the most embarrassing and upsetting seasons in Mets history, as the team collapsed from a 45-24 start to miss the playoffs at 83-79.
    Jackson Roberts, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2025
Verb
  • Look past the saber rattling and campaign rhetoric.
    Brian Jones, Oc Register, 6 Jan. 2026
  • Roughly one week later, Johnson reportedly heard the metal cage rattling from inside his home but later realized that the wrong bear had been captured.
    Bonny Chu, FOXNews.com, 31 Dec. 2025
Adjective
  • What is the most confounding and terrible, however, is Gretchen’s assertion that Slade, the anti-Viagra, doesn’t get involved with the women on his own accord, but only engages because the women always talk about him.
    Brian Moylan, Vulture, 10 Oct. 2025
  • The offense’s struggles are the most confounding.
    Zach Berman, New York Times, 10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
  • Democratic leaders actually were troubled by Mamdani’s rise (although their preference for a disgraced former governor was equally dismaying), but Democratic voters handed Mamdani a solid victory despite his radical positions.
    Steven Greenhut, Oc Register, 28 Nov. 2025
  • On top of this dismaying thought comes the realization that the AI is available 24x7 and at a low cost or perhaps even free.
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 19 Sep. 2025
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.

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Cite this Entry

“Nonplussing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussing. Accessed 10 Jan. 2026.

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