Leigh HuntGeorge Borrow
; nonplussing also nonplusing
ˌnän-ˈplə-siŋ
NewsweekJ. R. Perkins
Did you know?
Don't Let Nonplus Perplex You
Does nonplus perplex you? You aren't alone. Some people believe the non in nonplus means "not," and assume that to be nonplussed is to be calm and poised, but in fact the opposite is true. If you are among the baffled, the word's history may clarify things. In Latin, non plus means "no more." When nonplus debuted in English in the 16th century, it was used as a noun synonymous with quandary. Someone brought to a nonplus had reached an impasse in an argument and could say no more. In short time, people began applying nonplus as a verb, and today it is often used in participial form with the meaning "perplexed" (as in "Joellen's strange remark left us utterly nonplussed").
Examples of nonplus in a Sentence
Spin Staff, SPIN, 8 May 2023
Ecker was nonplused when asked how her husband’s shoelessness has limited their life.
—Katherine Rosman, BostonGlobe.com, 1 Mar. 2023
Industry experts were nonplussed that the government chose a company that plans weddings and corporate parties over experienced food distributors that submitted bids.
—Tom Orsborn, ExpressNews.com, 14 May 2020
And its performer was no doubt slightly nonplussed, too; Having previously claimed the track could elevate Rita Ora's career to new heights, Warren then called out the British singer for failing to promote it.
8.
—Jon O'Brien, Billboard, 7 Feb. 2020
See All Example Sentences for nonplus
Cite this Entry
“Nonplus.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonplus. Accessed 30 Oct. 2025.
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