nonplussed

Vocabulary Word

Definition

If you're 'nonplussed', you're so surprised or puzzled that you're unsure of what to say or do next. It's like when you're stunned by an unexpected question on a quiz.

Examples in Different Contexts

In board meetings, unexpected news might leave attendees 'nonplussed'. A CEO might reflect, 'The sudden market shift left us all nonplussed, and we needed time to regroup.'

Practice Scenarios

Technology

Scenario:

The app download statistics show an unexpected rise after the recent update. It's totally against our predictions.

Response:

The sudden rise was indeed nonplussing. We definitely need to delve further into the data.

Marketing

Scenario:

The last promotional campaign fell flat. But this one has received an extraordinary response.

Response:

It’s true, the success of this campaign left us all nonplussed.