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Nonplussed vs Bashful - What's the difference?

nonplussed | bashful | Related terms |

Nonplussed is a related term of bashful.


As adjectives the difference between nonplussed and bashful

is that nonplussed is bewildered; unsure how to respond or act while bashful is inclined to avoid notice.

As a verb nonplussed

is (nonplus).

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.
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    • 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

    bashful

    English

    Alternative forms

    * bashfull (archaic)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • (rfc-sense) inclined to avoid notice
  • reserved; disinclined to familiar approach.

    • Synonyms

    * shy * See also