nonplussed 1 of 2

adjective

ˌnän-ˈpləst How to pronounce nonplussed (audio)
variants also nonplused
Definition of nonplussednext
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

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nonplussed

2 of 2

verb

variants also nonplused
past tense of nonplus
as in embarrassed
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress I was nonplussed by his openly expressed admiration of me

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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
Adjective
Not that everyone seems nonplussed. — John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 4 May 2026 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
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
  1. perplexed
  2. embarrassed
  3. baffled
  4. confused
  5. bewildered
  6. flustered
Adjective
  • Guides for the aesthetically perplexed have lost their meaning.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 11 Aug. 2026
  • Even within the briefing room, reporters seemed perplexed by some of Warsh’s statements.
    — Jeanne Sahadi, CNN Money, 29 July 2026
Definition of perplexed
Verb
  • One month later, Europe embarrassed the United States on American soil at the Ryder Cup.
    — Dan Zaksheske, FOXNews.com, 19 July 2026
  • The suitors embarrassed themselves one by one, until Antinous demanded Penelope simply choose the best of them.
    — Tanya Fedak, Variety, 18 July 2026
Definition of embarrassed
Adjective
  • What baffled Russell was the difference in straight-line speed.
    — Madeline Coleman, New York Times, 21 July 2026
  • The cat’s baffled loss takes center stage while the human mourner remains on the sidelines.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 16 July 2026
Definition of baffled
Verb
  • This reserve should not be confused with a permanent investment strategy.
    — Steve Booren, Denver Post, 16 Aug. 2026
  • River otters are not to be confused with sea otters, which live in the ocean, bays and harbors and can grow to be up to five feet and 100 pounds.
    — Fedor Zarkhin, Los Angeles Times, 15 Aug. 2026
Definition of confused
Adjective
  • On Douban, a popular Chinese movie-review platform, viewers piled on with mocking and bewildered comments.
    — ABC News, ABC News, 17 Aug. 2026
  • That's when Penix, who was standing nearby, pointed at him and made a bewildered face.
    — Matt Reigle OutKick, FOXNews.com, 16 Aug. 2026
Definition of bewildered
Verb
  • Saliba is rarely flustered, so to see his game affected as much as it was made an impression.
    — Art de Roché, New York Times, 17 July 2026
  • 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.
    — Kyle Feldscher, CNN Money, 29 June 2026
Definition of flustered

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nonpluses
nonplussed
nonplussing
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Cite this Entry

“Nonplussed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussed. Accessed 20 Aug. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on nonplussed

Nglish: Translation of nonplussed for Spanish Speakers

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