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Nonchalant vs Insouciant - What's the difference?

nonchalant | insouciant |

As adjectives the difference between nonchalant and insouciant

is that nonchalant is casually calm and relaxed while insouciant is carefree, nonchalant, indifferent; casually unconcerned.

nonchalant

English

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Casually calm and relaxed.
    • We handled the whole frenetic situation with a nonchalant attitude.
  • Indifferent; unconcerned; behaving as if detached.
    • He is far too nonchalant about such a serious matter.

    Synonyms

    * (casually calm) carefree, cool, mellow, easygoing * (indifferent) , unconcerned * See also

    insouciant

    English

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Carefree, nonchalant, indifferent; casually unconcerned.
  • * 1903 , , "Cadiz" in The Land of The Blessed Virgin :
    • It was there that on Sunday I had seen the populace disport itself, and it was full of life then, gay and insouciant .
  • * 1913 , , The Golden Road , ch. 3:
    • How I envied Peter his easy, insouciant manner!
  • * 2004 April 26, , " Sean Penn: Necessary Actor," Time :
    • Jack Nicholson . . . turned to an assistant, bummed a cigarette, flashed one of his wolfish, insouciant grins and said, "We all have our little secrets, Seany."