nonplussing 1 of 2

adjective

variants also nonplusing
Definition of nonplussingnext
as in perplexing

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

nonplussing

2 of 2

verb

variants also nonplusing
present participle of nonplus
as in embarrassing
to throw into a state of self-conscious distress I was nonplussed by his openly expressed admiration of me

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Examples Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for nonplussing
  1. perplexing
  2. disconcerting
  3. upsetting
  4. dismaying
  5. extraordinary
  6. incredible
  7. spectacular
  8. unlikely
Adjective
  • Making sense of what the affable and passionate Che is up to at his tiny restaurant can be perplexing.
    Matthew Odam, Austin American-Statesman, 21 Nov. 2024
  • Pope No position encapsulates Newcastle’s perplexing summer better than the incomplete reshuffling of the goalkeeper department.
    Chris Waugh, The Athletic, 14 Aug. 2024
Definition of perplexing
Verb
  • Russia was becoming more closed, and this was disconcerting for a generation that had grown up in a modernized and relatively open society.
    Andrei Kolesnikov, Foreign Affairs, 15 Oct. 2024
  • Calculations on how many homeowners are at risk and how many are covered vary, but all are disconcerting.
    Kate Gibson, CBS News, 4 Oct. 2024
Definition of disconcerting
Adjective
  • Balance upsetting coverage with good news, stories of progress, and examples of people who have gone through tragedy and made it to the other side.
    Allie Volpe, Vox, 11 Nov. 2024
  • Dye notes that the upsetting details of the case in the quiet Mississippi beach town have had reverberating effects on the small seaside community.
    Emily Palmer, People.com, 31 Oct. 2024
Definition of upsetting
Adjective
  • The math suggests a dismaying possibility: these votes may very well swing.
    Yiyun Li, Harper's Magazine, 23 Oct. 2024
  • Amid the meal, the guest made a dismaying discovery.
    Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 14 Oct. 2024
Definition of dismaying
Adjective
  • Furthermore, the governor’s last extraordinary session was a transparent public-relations stunt.
    Steven Greenhut, Orange County Register, 15 Nov. 2024
  • This extension was approved at an extraordinary general meeting held on July 18, 2024.
    Quartz Bot, Quartz, 14 Nov. 2024
Definition of extraordinary
Adjective
  • Keep reading to hear more about the incredible workings of the South's cutest Christmas towns.
    Abigail Wilt, Southern Living, 23 Nov. 2024
  • The incredible detail of Anderson's stop-motion animation gets more astounding in every scene (The leaves!
    Gwen Ihnat, EW.com, 23 Nov. 2024
Definition of incredible
Adjective
  • Weaving its way past some of the city’s most spectacular sights, the track was an enormous improvement from its predecessor.
    Dan Cancian, Forbes, 22 Nov. 2024
  • Over the last three decades, the scope of the spectacular lunchtime gala has changed, but its mission has remained the same.
    David Graver, Vogue, 21 Nov. 2024
Definition of spectacular
Adjective
  • They're paired up as roommates and forge an unlikely friendship, but after an encounter with The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (Jeff Goldblum), Glinda and Elphaba go down two starkly different paths.
    Samantha Stutsman, People.com, 23 Nov. 2024
  • Langer’s unlikely 30-foot putt for birdie capped a thrilling, down to the wire season-ending tournament.
    Candace Oehler, Forbes, 23 Nov. 2024
Definition of unlikely
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Thesaurus Entries Near nonplussing

nonplussed

nonplussing

nonpoisonous

See More Nearby Entries 

Cite this Entry

“Nonplussing.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/nonplussing. Accessed 1 Dec. 2024.

Copy Citation

Share

More from Merriam-Webster on nonplussing

Nglish: Translation of nonplussing for Spanish Speakers

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See All

How to Use Em Dashes (—), En Dashes (–) , and Hyphens (-)

Plural and Possessive Names: A Guide

The Difference Between 'i.e.' and 'e.g.'

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See All

Popular in Wordplay

See All

Terroir, Oenophile, & Magnum: Ten Words About Wine

8 Words for Lesser-Known Musical Instruments

10 Words from Taylor Swift Songs (Merriam's Version)

9 Superb Owl Words

15 Words That Used to Mean Something Different
See All

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Word Game Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
sweet smart pug puppy dog sitting in front of blackboard with chalk question marks
Commonly Confused Words Quiz Vol. 3 Do you have a (flare/flair) for choosing the righ...