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nonplus — to 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.

NON (no) + PLUS (more) — by revealing a trap with absolutely NON (no) PLUS (more) moves left, the sudden checkmate managed to nonplus the grandmaster.
🧠 Mnemonic

NON (no) + PLUS (more) — by revealing a trap with absolutely NON (no) PLUS (more) moves left, the sudden checkmate managed to nonplus the grandmaster.

Waiting politely for the morning bus, only to watch it speed past and splash mud on us, the rude incident managed to completely nonplus the commuters.
🎵 Rhyme

Waiting politely for the morning bus, only to watch it speed past and splash mud on us, the rude incident managed to completely nonplus the commuters.

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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

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

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