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nonplusto cause someone to be so surprised and confused that they are unsure how to react

Part of speech: VERB

Definition: to cause someone to be so surprised and confused that they are unsure how to react

Pronunciation (IPA): /ˈnɑːnplʌs/

Example Sentences

  • The magician's impossible trick left the entire audience nonplussed.
  • When asked to explain why he was wearing two different shoes, Tom looked completely nonplussed.
  • The cat seemed nonplussed when its favorite napping spot was occupied by a robot vacuum.

nonplus

VERB

[/ˈnɑːnplʌs/]

to cause someone to be so surprised and confused that they are unsure how to react

The magician's final trick left the entire audience completely nonplussed.
💡 Concept

The magician's final trick left the entire audience completely nonplussed.

The surplus did nonplus him thus!
🎵 Rhyme

The surplus did nonplus him thus!

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🎤Pronunciation

🇺🇸 US/ˈnɑːnplʌs/
🇬🇧 UK/ˈnɒnplʌs/

🌳Etymology

Prefixnon--
Rootplus

Origin

From Latin 'non plus', literally meaning 'no more' or 'nothing further'. It originally described a state where no more could be said or done, leaving someone at a complete loss.

Breakdown

non (not/no) + plus (more/further) - literally 'no more', expressing a state where one cannot proceed further

🎵Rhyme

surplusthusplus
surplus
thus
plus

🔗Collocations

completely nonplussed
nonplussed expression
nonplussed by the question
leave someone nonplussed
utterly nonplussed

📝Examples

The magician's impossible trick left the entire audience nonplussed.

😄 Fun example

When asked to explain why he was wearing two different shoes, Tom looked completely nonplussed.

😄 Fun example

The cat seemed nonplussed when its favorite napping spot was occupied by a robot vacuum.

Her sudden resignation nonplussed the management team.

📚Related Words

Synonyms

confuseperplexbewilderpuzzlebaffle

Antonyms

clarifyenlightenexplain

Related

perplexedbewilderedconfusedpuzzled

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