Read along with the three podcasts, or open the full dictionary entry for Nonplussed for the definition, Arabic meaning, synonyms and example sentences.
Narrator: Today's word is "Nonplussed" — adjective, pronounced /nɒnˈplʌst/, with the stress on "plussed".
Narrator: Nonplussed means surprised and unsure how to react, bewildered or confused.
Narrator: In plain English, nonplussed means stunned — like being nonplussed by an unexpected question.
Narrator: It comes from the Latin non plus, meaning no more, from non-, not, and plus, more.
Narrator: "To be nonplussed by" describes being surprised and unsure how to react.
Narrator: It differs from surprised because nonplussed implies confusion, whereas surprised is general.
Narrator: "A nonplussed expression" is a sense meaning a look of bewilderment or confusion.
Narrator: Everyday speech, description, literature, psychology and social life all rely on the word nonplussed.
Narrator: So remember: nonplussed means bewildered, from the Latin for no more.
Speaker A: What does nonplussed mean?
Speaker B: Bewildered! NONPLUSSED comes from the Latin non plus, no more, from non- not and plus, more, so it means surprised and unsure how to react.
Speaker A: So you're nonplussed by a surprise?
Speaker B: Yes — stunned and confused!
Speaker A: Example sentences?
Speaker B: "To be nonplussed by"; "a nonplussed expression"; "left nonplussed" — reaction, look and result.
Speaker A: Common mistakes?
Speaker B: Don't use nonplussed to mean unfazed in British English, because in British English it means bewildered, though American usage sometimes means unfazed.
Speaker A: Close relatives?
Speaker B: 'Surprised' the general cousin, 'bewildered' the confused twin, 'stunned' the shocked alternative. The word keeps its bewildered charm!
Speaker B: Let's use "nonplussed" in AI prompts — useful for writing apps and psychology tools.
Speaker A: So a prompt could frame writing?
Speaker B: Right. For a writing app, you'd write:
Prompt: Write a short guide to using nonplussed, naming two examples.
Speaker A: How about a psychology tool?
Speaker B: Ask the model to advise:
Prompt: Draft a guide to nonplussed reactions, naming two features.
Speaker A: Could it help with a description bot?
Speaker B: Yes, you can frame expression:
Prompt: Summarise in two sentences how to describe nonplussed, naming one detail.
Speaker A: One more?
Speaker B: For a language chatbot, try this:
Prompt: Write a short note on British versus American nonplussed, naming one difference.
Nonplussed — meaning in Arabic & definition More N courses GL Dictionary