insouciantadj.
/ansuːsˈjɒ̃//ɪnˈsuːsiənt/ Careless, indifferent, unconcerned.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > indifference > [adjective]
carelessOE
negligentc1390
recklessc1425
neutral1494
indifferent?1520
undifferentc1540
uncareful1560
unmindful1560
unaddicted1583
unmindful1585
perfunctory1602
disinteressed1603
come day, go day (God send Sunday)1616
disinteresteda1631
Laodicean1633
vacanta1639
unconcerned1645
easy1649
mawkish1679
indifferinga1694
concernless1706
unminding1714
nonchalanta1734
coolrife1768
uninterested1772
uncaring1786
tooth-picking1814
pococurante1815
pococurantish1821
insouciant1829
non-committal1829
don't-care1830
promiscuous1837
don't-carish1838
unpartial1840
noncurantist1882
noncuranta1913
casual1916
Gallionic1920
disengaged1958
1829 W. Scott Anne of Geierstein III. vi. 158 This insouciant, light-tempered, gay, and thoughtless disposition, conducted René..to a hale and mirthful old age.
1848 J. S. Mill Princ. Polit. Econ. II. ii. ix. §3. 375 What race would not be indolent and insouciant when things are so arranged, that they derive no advantage from forethought and exertion?
1888 Pall Mall Gaz. 12 Jan. 2/1 On such subjects, an insouciant agnosticism is the most philosophic attitude.
Derivatives
inˈsouciantly adv. carelessly, with an air of unconcern.
ΘΚΠ
the mind > emotion > indifference > [adverb]
indifferently1574
perfunctorily1581
perfunctoriously1609
unconcernedly1636
disaffectedly1646
inconcernedly1695
gaily1810
nonchalantly1836
off-handed1840
uncovetingly1862
uncaringly1868
insouciantly1880
uninterestedly1891
disinterestedly1941
1880 J. Hawthorne Ellice Quentin I. 110 Should I..stalk insouciantly through the crowd and up the beach as I was?
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1900; most recently modified version published online June 2021).
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adj.1829