Nonplussed vs Agitated - What's the difference?

nonplussed | agitated | Related terms |

Nonplussed is a related term of agitated.

As verbs the difference between nonplussed and agitated

is that nonplussed is (nonplus) while agitated is (agitate).

As an adjective nonplussed

is bewildered; unsure how to respond or act.

nonplussed

English

Adjective

(en adjective)

Bewildered; unsure how to respond or act.

* 1724 , (Daniel Defoe), :

Note, the honest Quaker was nonplussed , and greatly surprised at that question.

* Episode 16

For the nonce he was rather nonplussed but inasmuch as the duty plainly devolved upon him to take some measures on the subject he pondered suitable ways and means during which Stephen repeatedly yawned.

* 2000 , Marcia Miller & Martin Lee, Vocabulary, Word of the Day

"Dad was so nonplussed by the new VCR that he gave up and asked Mom to set it for him ".

(proscribed, US, informal) Unfazed, unaffected, or unimpressed.

Usage notes

In recent North American English nonplussed has acquired the alternative meaning of "unimpressed". In 1999, this was considered a neologism, ostensibly from "not plussed", although "plussed" by itself is not a recognized English word. The "unimpressed" meaning is not considered standard usage by at least one authoritative source.{{cite web , url = http://www.askoxford.com/concise_oed/nonplussed?view=uk , title = askOxford: nonplussed , accessdate = 2007-04-20 , language = English }}

Synonyms

* (bewildered) perplexed, vexed, thwarted, frustrated, foiled, confounded

Verb

(head)

(nonplus)

References

agitated

English

Verb

(head)

(agitate)

agitate

English

(Webster 1913)

Verb

(agitat)

To move with a violent, irregular action; as, the wind agitates the sea; to agitate water in a vessel.

``Winds . . . agitate the air.'' --Cowper.

(rare) To move or actuate.

:(Thomson)

To stir up; to disturb or excite; to perturb; as, he was greatly agitated.

The mind of man is agitated by various passions. --Johnson.

To discuss with great earnestness; to debate; as, a controversy hotly agitated.

:(Boyle)

To revolve in the mind, or view in all its aspects; to contrive busily; to devise; to plot; as, politicians agitate desperate designs.

Synonyms

* move, shake, excite, rouse, disturb, distract, revolve, discuss, debate, canvass

External links

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