nonplussed

[ non-pluhst ]

adjective

1. completely puzzled or perplexed by something unexpected:

   She blows a hole in the wall and escapes, and the nonplussed aliens are left wondering what happened.

2. not dismayed; indifferent or unexcited; calm: the current entry.

   I hadn’t yet told my girlfriend I was leaving—I didn't want to risk being crushed by a nonplussed response to the news.

verb

1. the simple past tense and past participle of nonplus ( def ).

Usage Note

The most common sense of nonplussed is “puzzled or perplexed”: Her odd choice of words left me somewhat nonplussed. But there is a more recent and less common usage with almost the opposite meaning, “unfazed, indifferent, or unexcited”: She remained nonplussed throughout the child’s tantrum, simply waiting till it was over. Although this second usage is gaining traction even in edited writing, many speakers and writers consider it nonstandard and avoid it as potentially confusing. There are several theories about how this contradictory second meaning came into being. One explanation is the analysis of nonplussed as non- “not” + plussed, interpreted as “not puzzled, perplexed, bothered, or impressed,” possibly by analogy with other words that have a negative prefix and similar meaning, such as unfazed and indifferent, and perhaps influenced by nonchalant. However, plussed has no meaning in English, and the non at the beginning is not in fact the common English negative prefix non- found in such words as nonalcoholic or nonexistent. Interestingly, the adjective nonplussed was formed from the less common verb nonplus “to puzzle or perplex,” which was originally a noun meaning “a state of utter perplexity,” and this noun was borrowed from the Latin phrase nōn plūs “not more; no further.” In other words, a state of perplexity is one in which the person can think of no more to say or do.

Word History and Origins

Origin of nonplussed¹

First recorded in 1600–10; nonplus ( def ) + -ed ²( def )

Example Sentences

Then he's quiet, while I, nonplussed, just stare until he adds, “The camera must never move.”

From The Daily Beast

Nonplussed, he thought for a moment, smiled, and meekly confessed, “Nothing I guess—just boxing and my family.”

From The Daily Beast

Pinder, 29, appears to be nonplussed, telling the website, “The shoot is meant to be fun and very tongue-in-cheek.”

From The Daily Beast

It was a Christmas present from my girlfriend, and when I unwrapped it, I was a little nonplussed.

From The Daily Beast

Attaullha, the TTP fighter, is similarly nonplussed by the lack of response to the raid.

From The Daily Beast

This defiant answer nonplussed the rebels, who had private interests to consider.

From Project Gutenberg

Nonplussed, Matt came to a halt and waited for Clip to come up with him, wheeling his crippled one-cylinder.

From Project Gutenberg

I confess I was quite nonplussed for the moment as to how best to commence the attack upon this unexpected visitor.

From Project Gutenberg

The club coteries paused, the literary log-rollers were nonplussed, and Thackeray sat reading instead of writing.

From Project Gutenberg

The barkeeper was nonplussed, and asked what a tin-roof cocktail was.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• agitated
• anxious
• concerned
• confused
• crazy
• distressed
• frantic
• hysterical
• mad
• perturbed
• tormented
• troubled