Words / C2

non-PLUST/ˌnɒnˈplʌst/

Nonplussed (UK) means so surprised or confused that you cannot react: look nonplussed, nonplussed by the figure. Confused (already in the dictionary) is everyday; at a loss is the gloss. In US informal use, nonplussed is sometimes wrongly used for “unperturbed” — ignore that in this dictionary. Do not write nonplussed for a person who has simply not opened the folder.

Meaning

So surprised or confused that you do not know how to react (UK).

Examples

• “The auditor was nonplussed that the CSV lived in a shared drive.”
• “Confused is everyday (already in the dictionary). Bewildered and at a loss are close. Plus in the Latin is “more”: non plus, no further. If the appendix is still unopened, the problem is search, not astonishment. Raise an eyebrow after you have looked.”

Good to know

Bewildered; at a loss (UK). Everyday: confused. US trap: “unperturbed”. Look in the folder first.

Near in meaning

confused

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