nonplus
Leave completely baffled
To nonplus someone is to bewilder them so thoroughly they don't know how to respond or proceed.
The word suggests being brought to a standstill by confusion or surprise: The question completely nonplussed her.
As a noun, nonplus names this state of bafflement, though the verb dominates modern usage.
Cause utter confusion
- flummoxTo thoroughly confuse
- bewilderCause utter confusion
- baffleConfuse or perplex
- confuseCause mental disorientation
disconcert · puzzle · mystify · stump · befuddle · dumbfound · discomfit · faze
Thoroughly confused, uncertain
- baffledUtterly unable to understand
- bewilderedThoroughly puzzled and confused
- confoundedThoroughly puzzled or frustrated
- puzzledConfused by something unclear
stumped · mystified · flummoxed · befuddled · dumbfounded · at a loss · disconcerted · disoriented
perplex
Cause utter confusion
confuse · disconcert · puzzle · mystify · stump · befuddle · dumbfound · discomfit · faze · throw
perplexed
Thoroughly confused, uncertain
- baffledUtterly unable to understand
- bewilderedThoroughly puzzled and confused
- confoundedThoroughly puzzled or frustrated
puzzled · stumped · mystified · flummoxed · befuddled · dumbfounded · at a loss · disconcerted · disoriented · speechless
astound
Shock with wonder
- flabbergastShock into speechlessness
- stupefyOverwhelm with astonishment
- stunDaze by force
shock · dumbfound · startle · amaze · surprise · thunderstrike · bowl over · blindside · jolt · take aback
dilemma
Forced choice between undesirables
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- impasseSituation without resolution
- deadlockMutual blocking, no progress
standstill · bind · fix · pickle · jam · spot · corner · conundrum · muddle · stalemate
- confusionconfusion, confused, bewilderment, perplexity, baffled
- agitationagitation, anxiety, worry, nervousness, unease
- stunsamazes, astounds, dumbfounds, stuns, shocks
- stunstun, daze, shock, stupefy, stagger