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Nonplussed vs Surprised - What's the difference?

nonplussed | surprised |

As adjectives the difference between nonplussed and surprised

is that nonplussed is bewildered; unsure how to respond or act while surprised is caused to feel surprise, amazement or wonder, or showing an emotion due to an unexpected event.

As verbs the difference between nonplussed and surprised

is that nonplussed is (nonplus) while surprised is (surprise).

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

    surprised

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Caused to feel surprise, amazement or wonder, or showing an emotion due to an unexpected event.

    • Synonyms

    * astonished *

    Verb

    (head)
  • (surprise)

    • See also

    * shocked