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insouciance

insouciance

3 9.9
A relaxed, calm way of acting without worry
  • noun
  • /ˌɪnˈsuːsiˌɑːns/
translation icon : despreocupación
  • His insouciance in the face of challenges made everyone around him feel more relaxed.
  • an air of insouciance
  • certain insouciance
  • a kind of insouciance

If nothing else, we did a good job the the the willful insouciance, the willful ignoring of that fact says something about us ignoring it.

Examples

  • Like his mentor A.J. Liebling, Epstein dispenses real wisdom with what looks like insouciance but is really just old-fashioned agility.

    Blog text (14)
  • Madame, l admire your insouciance.

  • "Is this what's called insouciance?" McMoran mutters, struck also by Ormston's calm.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • "Still, there is a dairy smoothness in her complexion and a refreshing glint of insouciance in her eyes."

    Fiction book (1995)
  • After dinner, they draped their long legs across the sofa, displaying at last a hint of insouciance, and blew perfect smoke rings at the ceiling.

    Fiction book (1998)
  • Just as Carlyle's prodigality has a benevolent dimension, so his general insouciance has its winning side in the form of an innocent indifference to the claims of responsibility, conformity, and convention.

    Academic text (2001)
  • The yellow silk of the background had faded to ochre, but the multicolored peacocks were bold as ever, spreading their tails with lordly insouciance, regarding the viewer with eyes like black beads.

    Fiction book (1992)
  • She approached the difficult situation with a sense of insouciance, not worried about the outcome.

  • Despite the chaos at the party, she maintained an air of insouciance that was truly admirable.

Synonyms

nonchalance
vsinsouciance
6 7.6

A calm, relaxed way of behaving that shows little worry or interest

is the inner relaxed state rather than just an outward manner
unconcern
vsinsouciance
1 6.1

A state of not feeling worried or interested about something

is a relaxed inner state emphasizing freedom from anxiety
lightheartedness
vsinsouciance
1 4.8

A cheerful, carefree feeling that makes people relax

indicates calm lack of worry without the lively cheerful quality
carefreeness
vsinsouciance
6.8

Being without worries or responsibilities and feeling happy

is a neutral lack of worry without added cheerfulness
relaxedness
vsinsouciance
5.5

A calm, comfortable state with little worry or stress

focuses more on mental lack of worry than bodily ease
easygoingness
vsinsouciance
4.4

A calm, relaxed way of behaving that does not get worried easily

is usually a temporary relaxed state rather than a stable trait
lightsomeness
vsinsouciance
  • Literature
9.8

A cheerful, carefree feeling that makes life seem easier

is calmer and less playful, focusing on absence of anxiety
unruffled demeanor
vsinsouciance
6.3

A calm, steady way to behave when things are difficult

is a general relaxed lack of worry, not only under stress
composedness
vsinsouciance
6.8

Calm control of your feelings when things are difficult

is a relaxed absence of worry rather than controlled emotional restraint

Antonyms

1.5

A feeling of worry about people or things you care about

423 3.5

A worried, nervous feeling that makes you unable to relax

How Carefree

nonchalance
6 7.6
insouciance
3 9.9
composure
38 5.1
calmness
9 2.7

Surface Forms

insouciance singular
insouciances plural

Morphology

insouciance = insouciant (semi-transparent) = in + souci + ance

Formed from the adjective 'insouciant' with the noun-forming '-ance'; the meaning is literal but the adjective and the root 'souci' are relatively rare/foreign, so learners may not fully deduce it.

Etymology

Insouciance comes from French parts in- meaning 'not' and souci meaning 'care' or 'worry', so it literally means 'not worried'. Think of it like the English word 'carefree', which is why insouciance describes a calm, relaxed attitude with little anxiety.