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Glite Dictionary
to nonplus

to nonplus

9.4
Surprise and confuse a person so they do not know what to do
  • verb
  • /nɑnˈplʌs/
translation icon : desconcertar
  • The unexpected question seemed to nonplus the speaker, who paused in confusion.

Examples

  • They were nonplussed by the results, unable to explain what had happened.

  • Her strange behavior did not nonplus him; he acted as if nothing was wrong.

  • Don't nonplus him!

  • The sudden change in plans nonplused everyone involved.

  • The magician's unexpected trick was enough to nonplus the audience.

  • Her sudden change of plans seemed to nonplus everyone in the meeting.

  • He was nonplussed by the surprising news and didn't know how to respond.

Synonyms

to beat
vsto nonplus
  • Informal
190 7.0

To be too difficult for someone to understand

adds shock that makes someone unsure how to respond rather than only difficulty
to puzzle
vsto nonplus
73 4.9

To make someone feel confused when something is hard to understand

includes sudden startling surprise that prevents an immediate reaction not only confusion
to baffle
vsto nonplus
65 5.3

To make someone very confused and unable to understand

has added element of surprise that causes unsure reaction rather than mere puzzlement
to perplex
vsto nonplus
35 6.3

To make someone confused and unable to understand

adds a sudden surprise that leaves people unsure how to act
to bewilder
vsto nonplus
29 5.3

Make someone very confused and unable to think clearly

includes sudden surprise making people unsure how to respond rather than just confusion
to mystify
vsto nonplus
28 6.5

To make someone confused by making something seem mysterious

adds clear surprise and leaves a person unsure how to react not just mystery
to confound
vsto nonplus
22 7.0

Make someone unable to think clearly

emphasizes surprise that causes not knowing how to react rather than only confusion
to dumbfound
vsto nonplus
17 7.0

To surprise someone so much that they cannot speak or answer

focuses on surprise plus confusion leaving one unsure how to react
to befuddle
vsto nonplus
11 7.8

To make someone very confused so they cannot think clearly

stresses sudden surprise that leaves a person unsure how to respond
to bemuse
vsto nonplus
11 7.5

To make someone feel confused or unable to understand

is stronger in surprise and causes real uncertainty about reacting
to stupefy
vsto nonplus
9 7.9

To make someone unable to think or react after a very strong shock

stresses surprised confusion that causes uncertainty about how to respond
to flummox
vsto nonplus
7 8.6

To confuse someone so they do not know what to do or think

emphasizes surprise that leaves someone unsure how to react
to discombobulate
vsto nonplus
  • Informal
6 9.9

To confuse someone so they cannot think clearly

adds an element of surprise causing uncertainty about what to do
to vex
vsto nonplus
1 7.7

To confuse someone by making something hard to understand

adds sudden surprise and reaction uncertainty rather than routine puzzlement
to gravel
vsto nonplus
  • Archaic
9.9

To annoy or puzzle someone

focuses on startling surprise that causes inability to respond rather than mere annoyance

Antonyms

to clarify
248 3.3

To make something clear so others can understand it

How Confused

to nonplus
9.4
to confuse
266 1.9
to puzzle
73 4.9

Surface Forms

nonplus infinitive
nonplusing present participle
nonpluses third person singular
nonplussed past
nonplussed past participle

Morphology

nonplus = plus (opaque) = non + plus

Although formed from recognizable parts 'non' + 'plus', the sense 'bewilder' is not derivable from 'not more', so learners cannot infer the meaning.

Etymology

Nonplus comes from the Latin parts non 'not' and plus 'more', giving the image of 'no more' left to say or do. So, to be nonplussed is to be so surprised and confused that you do not know how to react.