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nonchalant

adjective/ˌnɑːnˈʃəlɑːnt/

having an air of casual unconcern or indifference

Despite the chaos around her, she maintained a nonchalant attitude as if nothing bothered her.

unconcernedcavalierindifferent
word origin — French 'nonchalant', from 'non' (not) + 'chaloir' (to be concerned)

GRE Vocabulary — Set 90

Set 90 of GRE Vocabulary covers 5 words: nonchalant, jaunty, noisome, nebulous, judicious. Each entry below includes its definition, an example sentence, and synonyms — practice them with the interactive cards above.

  1. nonchalant · adjective/ˌnɑːnˈʃəlɑːnt/

    having an air of casual unconcern or indifference

    Despite the chaos around her, she maintained a nonchalant attitude as if nothing bothered her.

    Synonyms: unconcerned, cavalier, indifferent

    Origin: French 'nonchalant', from 'non' (not) + 'chaloir' (to be concerned)

  2. jaunty · adjective/ˈdʒɔnti/

    having a lively and cheerful manner

    She walked into the room with a jaunty stride, instantly brightening the atmosphere around her.

    Synonyms: lively, sprightly, cheerful

    Origin: The word 'jaunty' comes from the French 'jose' (from 'joseux'), meaning 'cheerful' or 'playful', originating in the late 17th century.

  3. noisome · adjective/ˈnɔɪ.səm/

    offensive or disgusting, especially to the sense of smell

    The noisome odor from the nearby landfill made it unbearable to spend time in the park.

    Synonyms: foul, offensive, malodorous

    Origin: From Middle English 'noisome', derived from Old English 'noysum', meaning 'harmful' or 'hurtful', which is related to the noun 'noise'.

  4. nebulous · adjective/ˈnɛb(j)ələs/

    vague or ill-defined

    The project's objectives remained nebulous, leaving team members confused about their individual roles.

    Synonyms: unclear, ambiguous, vague

    Origin: from Latin 'nebulosus', meaning 'cloudy or misty', from 'nebula' meaning 'mist, cloud'.

  5. judicious · adjective/dʒuˈdɪʃəs/

    having or showing good judgment or sense

    The investor made a judicious choice by diversifying their portfolio to minimize risk.

    Synonyms: wise, prudent, sensible

    Origin: From Latin 'judicious', from 'judicium' meaning 'judgment'