Meaning & use
nonplussed
Last updated
Meanings
adjectiveafter a verb
So surprised and confused that you do not know what to say or do.
Grammar: Follows be or look and is often followed by by or at: nonplussed by the question.
Patterns
- nonplussed by something
- nonplussed at something
- look nonplussed
She was nonplussed by the sudden change of plans.
The teacher looked nonplussed when the class began to sing.
He was completely nonplussed at the question.
adjectiveafter a verbinformalAmerican
Calm and not bothered by something that might be expected to cause a reaction.
Grammar: A newer use, mainly American, that many careful writers avoid because it reverses the traditional meaning.
Patterns
- nonplussed by something
He seemed nonplussed by the heckler and carried on with his speech.
She stayed nonplussed during the long delay.
The cat was nonplussed by the noise.
Common combinations
- completely nonplussed
- The audience was completely nonplussed by the ending.
- nonplussed by
- He was nonplussed by the strange request.
- look nonplussed
- She looked nonplussed when asked to explain.
- seem nonplussed
- The clerk seemed nonplussed by the demand.
- totally nonplussed
- I was totally nonplussed at the news.
Synonyms and how they differ
- baffled
- Baffled stresses being unable to understand, whereas nonplussed also includes being unsure how to react.
- bewildered
- Bewildered suggests being lost in confusion, while nonplussed is about being stopped by surprise.
- perplexed
- Perplexed focuses on puzzling over something, and nonplussed on being briefly speechless.
- taken aback
- Taken aback is a less formal expression for being briefly shocked.
Opposites
Word family
- nonplus verb
- to surprise and confuse someone
- nonplussing adjective
- causing confusion, rarely used
- plus noun
- the Latin root meaning more
- nonplused adjective
- a variant spelling of nonplussed
Commonly confused: nonplussed or unfazed? nonplussed or nonchalant?
nonplussed vs unfazed
Unfazed means not disturbed at all, and it is the sense some speakers mistakenly give to nonplussed.
nonplussed vs nonchalant
Nonchalant means casually calm and relaxed, which is different from the traditional meaning of confused.
Practice
In its traditional sense, which sentence uses nonplussed correctly?
Choose one answer.
Traditionally, nonplussed means so surprised that you do not know how to respond, so the second sentence fits. The others show calm confidence or use the word for a business.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “nonplussed”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.