Nonchalance: meaning, definitions and examples

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nonchalance

 

[ ˈnɒnʃ(ə)l(ə)ns ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

in social situations

The state or quality of being nonchalant; cool indifference or lack of concern; casualness.

Synonyms

casualness, composure, indifference, unconcern.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
nonchalance

Use 'nonchalance' to describe a relaxed and calm manner, often in situations where you might expect concern or excitement. This term can sometimes imply a sense of overconfidence or lack of appropriate response.

  • 'Despite the chaos around him, he maintained a sense of nonchalance
  • ' 'Her nonchalance during the emergency was surprising
  • '
indifference

Use 'indifference' to express a lack of interest, concern, or sympathy towards something or someone. This word often carries a negative connotation, implying apathy or disregard.

  • 'His indifference to her feelings was hurtful
  • ' 'The community's indifference towards the issue was troubling
  • '
unconcern

Use 'unconcern' to convey a lack of worry, interest, or involvement, often implying that the person should care more than they do. This word can also have a negative connotation, similar to 'indifference'.

  • 'His unconcern for the deadline was frustrating to the team
  • ' 'The parents' unconcern about their child's poor grades was alarming
  • '
casualness

Use 'casualness' to describe a relaxed and informal manner. This is often used in social or less formal settings, without implying any degrees of tension or stress.

  • 'His casualness at the party made everyone feel at ease
  • ' 'The interview was conducted with a surprising level of casualness
  • '
composure

Use 'composure' to describe calmness and control over emotions, especially in stressful or demanding situations. It implies a conscious effort to stay collected.

  • 'She handled the crisis with remarkable composure
  • ' 'Maintaining composure in such conditions isn't easy
  • '

Examples of usage

  • He greeted the bad news with nonchalance.
  • She faced the difficult situation with nonchalance.
  • The actor performed on stage with nonchalance.
Context #2 | Noun

in personal behavior

The quality of remaining calm and composed in stressful or difficult situations.

Synonyms

calmness, composure, coolness, poise.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

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Word Description / Examples
nonchalance

Used to describe a careless or indifferent attitude, often implying a lack of concern or seriousness.

  • He answered the tough questions with a nonchalance that surprised everyone
calmness

Associated with a state of tranquility and peace, particularly during stressful situations.

  • Her calmness during the storm helped soothe the frightened children
composure

Refers to maintaining control over one's emotions and reactions, especially in difficult or unexpected circumstances.

  • Despite the bad news, he managed to maintain his composure and continue with the presentation
coolness

Can imply either a state of being calm under pressure or a distant, detached attitude; the latter can carry a negative connotation.

  • She handled the emergency with remarkable coolness
  • / His coolness towards his friends made them feel neglected
poise

Conveys grace, elegance, and self-assurance in one's actions and demeanor, often in social or formal situations.

  • She walked onto the stage with effortless poise, captivating the audience immediately

Examples of usage

  • Her nonchalance in the face of criticism was admirable.
  • I was impressed by his nonchalance during the emergency.

Translations

Translations of the word "nonchalance" in other languages:

🇵🇹 despreocupação

🇮🇳 निर्लिप्तता

🇩🇪 Gleichgültigkeit

🇮🇩 ketidaksukaan

🇺🇦 байдужість

🇵🇱 obojętność

🇯🇵 無頓着 (むとんちゃく)

🇫🇷 nonchalance

🇪🇸 despreocupación

🇹🇷 umursamazlık

🇰🇷 태연함

🇸🇦 لامبالاة

🇨🇿 lhostejnost

🇸🇰 ľahostajnosť

🇨🇳 冷漠

🇸🇮 brezbrižnost

🇮🇸 afskiptaleysi

🇰🇿 бей-жайлық

🇬🇪 უგულებელყოფა

🇦🇿 laqeydlik

🇲🇽 despreocupación

Etymology

The word 'nonchalance' originated in the mid-18th century from the French word 'nonchalant', which means 'indifferent' or 'casual'. It gained popularity in English literature and speech over the years, becoming a common term to describe a cool and composed attitude in various situations.

See also: nonchalantly.

Word Frequency Rank

At rank #27,783, this word represents specialized academic or technical vocabulary. It's less frequently encountered but may be valuable in specific contexts.