adj

nonplussed

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Nonplussed (adj) means So confused or taken aback that you do not know what to do.

adj

So confused or taken aback that you do not know what to do.

"You couldn’t have told it from my manner, but I was feeling more than a bit nonplussed. The spectacle before me was enough to nonplus anyone." — Pelham Grenville Wodehouse (1934)

"For the nonce he was rather nonplussed but inasmuch as the duty plainly devolved upon him to take some measures on the subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned." — James Joyce, [Episode 16: Eumaeus] (1922)

Not affected or bothered; not impressed.

"And while many of us might be a little taken aback if Mom showed up at our offices, Secrist is utterly nonplussed, even happy about it." — Debra Pickett, Sunday lunch with (2002)

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C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

C2 · Advanced serendipity Fortunate discoveries made entirely by accident.

Gen Z slang rizz Charm — the ability to attract a romantic interest.

B2 · Intermediate empathy The capacity to share another person’s feelings.

C1 · Advanced nonchalant Casually calm and relaxed; unconcerned.

Internet slang delulu Delusional — believing something against the odds.

Etymology nostalgia Greek nostos “return home” + algos “pain”.

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Etymology

From nonplus (“state of bewilderment or perplexity”, noun) or nonplus (“to bewilder or perplex (someone)”, verb) + -ed (suffix forming adjectives, and the past tense and past participle forms of verbs). Nonplus (noun) is derived from Latin nōn plūs (“no further, no more”), from nōn (“not”) + plūs (“additionally, more; further”) (ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *pleh₁- (“to fill”)). The etymological sense is similar to being left speechless as a result of confusion: the nonplussed person can say or do “no more”. Adjective sense 2 (“unaffected”) is probably from a misinterpretation of the first element of the word as the prefix non- meaning “not”.

Synonyms

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puzzled nonplused

Antonyms

interested

Related words

interested concerned confused curious selfish impartial indifferent intrigued

Rhymes for nonplussed

discussed concussed

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Frequently asked questions

What is the meaning of nonplussed?

"nonplussed" (adj) means so confused or taken aback that you do not know what to do.

What is another word for nonplussed?

Other words for "nonplussed" include puzzled, nonplused.

What is the opposite of nonplussed?

The opposite of "nonplussed" is interested.

What are the different meanings of nonplussed?

"nonplussed" has 2 main meanings: 1. So confused or taken aback that you do not know what to do; 2. Not affected or bothered; not impressed.

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interested concerned confused curious selfish impartial indifferent intrigued