nonplus
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to render utterly perplexed by something unexpected; puzzle completely.
He nonplussed his questioners by answering in riddles.
- Synonyms:
- disconcert, confound, confuse, perplex
-
to cause to feel indifferent, calm, or unexcited.
The shoppers were entirely nonplussed by the disturbance in the street, continuing to gaze at window displays as they strolled along.
noun
verb
noun
Usage
See nonplussed ( def. ).
Etymology
Origin of nonplus
First recorded in 1575–85; (noun) from Latin nōn plūs literally, “not more, no further,” that is, a state in which nothing more can be done
Explanation
To nonplus is to baffle or confuse someone to the point that they have nothing to say. Something weird and mysterious can nonplus you, like a play that is performed entirely by chickens. If you know a little French or Latin, you'll recognize that "non plus" means "no more." When something bewildering nonpluses you, there's no more you can say or do about it. A goal of getting poor grades, running with a bad crowd, and refusing to eat would leave your parents nonplussed. Sometimes people misuse nonplus to mean "unimpressed," but that's not correct: to nonplus is to puzzle, confuse, and dumbfound.
Vocabulary lists containing nonplus
The Vocabulary.com Top 1000
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
A Spelling Bee for Fun
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
100 SAT Words Beginning with "N"
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
He found cross-examinations mentally invigorating, soon learned that he could nonplus storming attorneys if he kept smiling no matter how galling their insinuations.
From Time Magazine Archive
A grand dinner, and fine company; but, talking French, and nothing but French, all the time, Mrs. D. and your humble servant were rather at a nonplus.
From The Dodd Family Abroad, Vol. I by Lever, Charles James
He wanted to nonplus and disconcert her, if such a thing were possible.
From The Dark House by Wylie, I. A. R. (Ida Alexa Ross)
It happened most fortunately that there were a number of Chippewayan Indians encamped on the spot at the time, else we should have been completely at a nonplus.
From Notes of a Twenty-Five Years' Service in the Hudson's Bay Territory Volume II. by M'lean, John
“Why, the loon’s but a bairn,” said Mr Macdougall, at a nonplus for some objection to my promotion.
From On Board the Esmeralda Martin Leigh's Log - A Sea Story by Overend, William Heysham
Leigh Rosser was similarly nonplused while describing his biggest challenge as design fabrication lead.
From New York Times ● Apr. 1, 2024
Rupert watches Nate’s mixed feelings, and is clearly nonplused at the chinks in the armor he has been trying to build around Nate.
From New York Times ● Apr. 5, 2023
But even sophisticated cocktail consumers were nonplused by his pitch, so he switched to a more accessible product: applejack.
From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2021
And this, in turn, has left some of his peers nonplused — grumbling at what they see as a flimsy theory or bewildered as to why Harvard’s top astronomer won’t shut up about aliens.
From Washington Post ● Feb. 4, 2019
“I sure could use some lumber for my front porch,” he said, nonplused.
From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam
Collections by new designer Demna are going down well with American consumers, but shoppers everywhere else are nonplussed so far.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026
For now, investors appear nonplussed about potential disruptions to regional supply flows.
From Barron's ● Feb. 17, 2026
I was nonplussed at a 1992 symposium in Vienna when a hall filled with international art world denizens went absolutely wild, cheering and stomping when Kelley was introduced on a panel.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2025
"This is how I'd do it if I was DJ," he tells a group of nonplussed staff as dance music strains at his laptop speakers.
From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2025
I was nonplussed, and I blurted out that I was astounded that he could not see himself how damnably false this story was.
From "Long Walk to Freedom" by Nelson Mandela
Weaver, however, verged on nonplussing co-hosts Brian Williams and Rachel Maddow, as well as reporter Steve Kornacki, MSNBC's millennial version of CNN's king-of-the-"Magic Wall" John King.
From US News ● Apr. 20, 2016
While his powers of discussion of a subject were great, the power that especially characterized him was that of nonplussing his antagonist with a snub or a sarcasm.
From The Brothers' War by Reed, John Calvin
Dismissing this nonplussing phase, I turned to the subject of the gem once more.
From The Paternoster Ruby by Walk, Charles Edmonds
It is closely woven in with that of Poindexter, and presents one feature which may occasion you no surprise, but which, I own, came near nonplussing me.
From The Circular Study by Green, Anna Katharine
The question was awkward, nonplussing Jerky, and, the second time, calling for explanation from his sister; who, however, promptly vouchsafed it.
From No Quarter! by Reid, Mayne
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
