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When you abash someone, you make them feel uncomfortable, ashamed, embarrassed, or inferior.
If someone is addled by something, they are confused by it and unable to think properly.
If you are bemused, you are puzzled and confused; hence, you are lost or absorbed in puzzling thought.
If something bewilders you, you are very confused or puzzled by it.
The adjective blithe indicates that someone does something casually or in a carefree fashion without much concern for the end result.
Complacent persons are too confident and relaxed because they think that they can deal with a situation easily; however, in many circumstances, this is not the case.
If something confounds you, it makes you feel surprised and confused, often because it does not meet your predefined expectations.
To confute an argument is to prove it to be thoroughly false; to confute a person is to prove them to be wrong.
To contravene a law, rule, or agreement is to do something that is not allowed or is forbidden by that law, rule, or agreement.
A conundrum is a problem or puzzle that is difficult or impossible to solve.
If something daunts you, it makes you worried about dealing with it because you think it will be very difficult or dangerous.
When you are discombobulated, you are confused and upset because you have been thrown into a situation that you cannot temporarily handle.
If something discomfits you, it makes you feel embarrassed, confused, uncomfortable, or frustrated.
If something disconcerts you, it makes you feel anxious, worried, or confused.
When someone feels disquiet about a situation, they feel very worried or nervous.
If a fact or idea eludes you, you cannot remember or understand it; if you elude someone, you manage to escape or hide from them.
Someone or something that is enigmatic is mysterious and difficult to understand.
If someone is impassive, they are not showing any emotion.
If someone is imperturbable, they are always calm and not easily upset or disturbed by any situation, even dangerous ones.
If an idea or thought is incisive, it is expressed in a penetrating and knowledgeable manner that is clear and brief; additionally, it can demonstrate impressive understanding of related ideas or thoughts.
Insouciance is a lack of concern or worry for something that should be shown more careful attention or consideration.
An irrefutable argument or statement cannot be proven wrong; therefore, it must be accepted because it is certain.
If you nettle someone, you irritate or annoy them.
Someone who is nonchalant is very relaxed and appears not to be worried about anything.
A paradox is a statement that appears to be self-contradictory or unrealistic but may surprisingly express a possible truth.
To parry is to ward something off or deflect it.
When you are perplexed about something, you are completely confused or baffled by it.
Someone who demonstrates perspicacity notices or understands things very quickly.
If you are in a quandary, you are in a difficult situation in which you have to make a decision but don’t know what to do.
A sagacious person is wise, intelligent, and has the ability to make good practical decisions.
Something that stymies you presents an obstacle that prevents you from doing what you need or want to do.
To subvert something, like a government, is to try to destroy or damage its power and influence; to subvert someone is to corrupt her morals, loyalty, or faith.
To be unfazed is to not be affected by something that happens to you, even if it is quite embarrassing or bothersome.
If a problem or situation is vexing, it means that it puzzles, worries, or annoys you.
Adj.
nonplussed
non-PLUHSD
Context
When my wealthy brother wouldn’t pay me the money that he owed, I was completely surprised, confused, and nonplussed since he is usually as good as his word. My mother was equally nonplussed or uncertain about what to do when I told her about this situation. She told me that she was similarly puzzled or nonplussed by my father’s bizarre behavior lately. While we agree that the men in our family are odd, we are still shocked, frustrated, and nonplussed by their strange ways as of late.
Quiz:Try again!
What does it mean to be nonplussed?
To be hurt by a specific family conflict.
To be taken by surprise or at a loss for what to say or do.
Fussed but NoPlace To Go Although we fussed and fussed with the loan manager, he did not give us the loan; we are now nonplussed, even after we fussed and fussed, because we have noplace to live.
Examples
'One thing we never want is for people to be nonplussed or have no reaction,' says Dave Jeser, co-creator of the show with Matt Silverstein.
—
USA Today
When Maguire asked whether former midfield star Paul Gascoigne was part of his plans, Eriksson laughed and said, 'No, no, no.' But he was understandably nonplussed when the impersonator began singing the praises of Aston Villa goalkeeper David James.
—
Sports Illustrated
That nonplussed Bosnia’s Serbs, masters of the no-show tactic, who have been stroppily hinting they might seek independence on the same lines as nearby Kosovo.
—
The Economist
Germany is nonplussed by the prospect of having to hold its first Presidential election sooner or later and does not know what to do about it.
—
The New York Times
When one has become nonplussed by something, one can “not” take any “more” of it because it has become too confusing or too much for one to handle.
Word Constellation
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Related Words
abash ·
addle ·
bemused ·
bewilder ·
confound ·
confute ·
contravene ·
conundrum ·
daunt ·
discombobulated+ ·
discomfit ·
disconcert ·
disquiet ·
elude ·
enigmatic ·
irrefutable ·
nettle ·
paradox ·
perplexed+ ·
quandary ·
stymie ·
subvert ·
vexing ·
blithe ·
complacent ·
impassive ·
imperturbable ·
incisive ·
insouciance ·
nonchalant ·
parry ·
perspicacity ·
sagacious ·
unfazed ·
Similar sense
Opposite sense
Word Variants
nonplus
v
→
to confuse
The section lists important variants and alternate definitions of the headword. Knowing variants will often help you both remember and understand the word. Not all variants are listed - only the ones we think that are important for you to know.
