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
Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
And as Marty Di Bergi, the nonplussed documentarian following Tap on their American tour, Reiner is the movie’s marvelous straight man.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Jamie L. Lareau, USA Today, 10 Feb. 2026
So as the Rams prepare to face wintery and blustery conditions in their divisional round playoff game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field – a mere 90-minute drive from Mevis’ hometown in Warsaw, Indiana –the kicker is nonplussed about the weather report.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Adjective
The former Miami Heat player gave his wife a kiss as their daughter, Kaavia, looked on with her trademark nonplussed expression.
—Andrea Wurzburger, PEOPLE, 17 Jan. 2026
And as Marty Di Bergi, the nonplussed documentarian following Tap on their American tour, Reiner is the movie’s marvelous straight man.
—Will Leitch, Vulture, 16 Dec. 2025
Verb
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
So as the Rams prepare to face wintery and blustery conditions in their divisional round playoff game against the Chicago Bears on Sunday at Soldier Field – a mere 90-minute drive from Mevis’ hometown in Warsaw, Indiana –the kicker is nonplussed about the weather report.
—Adam Grosbard, Oc Register, 16 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for nonplussed
Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonplussed
Adjective
-
Some observers are perplexed as to why a serious adult drama is attracting the level of fan scrutiny usually reserved for genre material.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Variety,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Travelers who happen by the small town of Ida Grove, Iowa, about 100 miles north of Omaha, might be intrigued (and a little perplexed) by the castle-like structures that sprang from the vision of Byron Godbersen, founder of Midwest Industries.—
Jacqueline Kehoe,
Midwest Living,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Fitzpatrick and Team Europe embarrassed Team USA at Bethpage Black in the Fall.—
Mark Harris OutKick,
FOXNews.com,
20 Apr. 2026
-
The transparency issue also became important after the board embarrassed itself by quietly boosting board members’ pay by 25% — with Foley being the only member opposed.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
16 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Not outraged but baffled, curious Kaho tries to find out his hidden message.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
24 Apr. 2026
-
Scientist can’t be blamed for not recognizing the fleshy glob, because Relicanthus daphneae baffled experts for decades, the American Museum of Natural History reports.—
Mark Price,
Charlotte Observer,
22 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Valve’s upcoming Steam Controller (not to be confused with the 2015 controller of the same name) is the Steam maker’s effort to replace those controllers with something more explicitly designed for the PC, and for the upcoming Steam Machine.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The venomous coral snake does not have the telltale arrowhead shape and can often be confused with the nonvenomous kingsnake.—
Cody Godwin,
USA Today,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Garcia says, acting out the usual blush of so many bewildered men.—
Darío Gael Blanco,
Vanity Fair,
25 Apr. 2026
-
My mother looked bewildered and even Father looked up.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
24 Apr. 2026
Verb
-
Lullaby, Book of Love’s 1988 follow-up, is the sound of a band that felt surprised and flustered by unexpected success.—
Billie Bugara,
Pitchfork,
26 Apr. 2026
-
But Klubnik can get flustered in the pocket at times, and that can get him in trouble.—
Antwan Staley,
New York Daily News,
25 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Nonplussed.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussed. Accessed 2 May. 2026.
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