6 ms·
> nonplussed It seems nonplussed has two, almost contradictory definitions: 1. (of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react.
by xapata 7y ago
> nonplussed
It seems nonplussed has two, almost contradictory definitions:
1. (of a person) surprised and confused so much that they are unsure how to react.
2. (of a person) not disconcerted; unperturbed.
The latter is an "informal" definition. This seems to be the process by which the word awful switched from meaning awe-inspiring to the opposite.
- DoreenMichele 7y agohttps://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonplussed https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/nonplussed unsure about what to say, think, or do : perplexed chiefly US : not bothered, surprised, or impressed by something I'm an American. "Not impressed" is the closest thing I am seeing to what I was trying to convey. Unmoved might be a good substitute word in this case.
- xapata 7y agoI'm an American, too. It's funny that those Merriam-Webster definitions are so mild. I've always "known" nonplussed to indicate a fairly extreme state, like gobsmacked. I quoted definitions from Google's search snippet.