nonplus

He found cross-examinations mentally invigorating, soon learned that he could nonplus storming attorneys if he kept smiling no matter how galling their insinuations.

From Time Magazine Archive

Utterly at a nonplus, she at length returned to the donkey—that is, to the spot, so far as she could judge, where she had left it.

From Verner's Pride by Wood, Henry, Mrs.

The young lord, thus abandoned, looked at first at a nonplus, and seemed for a while more than half-inclined to follow.

From Shrewsbury A Romance by Weyman, Stanley J.

Each desperate plunge elicited from the sufferers oaths and expressions which only those who have seen sailors completely at a nonplus on shore can conceive.

From Journals of Two Expeditions of Discovery in North-West and Western Australia, Volume 1 by Grey, George

In short, it might nonplus a Person of the nicest Taste, to distinguish or determine, whether the Neatness of their Cells within, or the beauteous Varieties without, most exhaust his Admiration.

From Military Memoirs of Capt. George Carleton by Defoe, Daniel

A genial man in person, Mr. Connick appeared nonplused in his later years over a reputation that had been severely tainted.

From New York Times ● Jan. 27, 2024

In response to Mr. Zhao’s accusations, Mr. Bankman-Fried seemed nonplused.

From New York Times ● Dec. 9, 2022

But even sophisticated cocktail consumers were nonplused by his pitch, so he switched to a more accessible product: applejack.

From New York Times ● Feb. 2, 2021

And this, in turn, has left some of his peers nonplused — grumbling at what they see as a flimsy theory or bewildered as to why Harvard’s top astronomer won’t shut up about aliens.

From Washington Post ● Feb. 4, 2019

“I sure could use some lumber for my front porch,” he said, nonplused.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

For now, investors appear nonplussed about potential disruptions to regional supply flows.

From Barron's ● Feb. 17, 2026

It featured Evan, Anthony and Zachary performing a rendition of Hilary Duff’s “What Dreams Are Made Of” before a crowd of nonplussed seniors, while Darshan danced along next to them on a laptop screen.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 28, 2026

Ford, who died of natural causes at age 93 in 2006, was said to be nonplussed by Moore’s attempt on his life.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 25, 2025

"This is how I'd do it if I was DJ," he tells a group of nonplussed staff as dance music strains at his laptop speakers.

From BBC ● Aug. 22, 2025

The noisome fumes of the stink bomb forced officials to evacuate the school. nonplussed.

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Weaver, however, verged on nonplussing co-hosts Brian Williams and Rachel Maddow, as well as reporter Steve Kornacki, MSNBC's millennial version of CNN's king-of-the-"Magic Wall" John King.

From US News ● Apr. 20, 2016

It is closely woven in with that of Poindexter, and presents one feature which may occasion you no surprise, but which, I own, came near nonplussing me.

From The Circular Study by Green, Anna Katharine

While his powers of discussion of a subject were great, the power that especially characterized him was that of nonplussing his antagonist with a snub or a sarcasm.

From The Brothers' War by Reed, John Calvin

Our higher officials are fond as a rule of nonplussing their subordinates; the methods to which they have recourse to attain that end are rather various.

From Fathers and Children by Turgenev, Ivan Sergeevich

The question was awkward, nonplussing Jerky, and, the second time, calling for explanation from his sister; who, however, promptly vouchsafed it.

From No Quarter! by Reid, Mayne