Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Uninterested or indifferent due to overfamiliarity or excessive indulgence: Describes a state of boredom, weariness, or lack of enthusiasm resulting from having experienced something too often.
   • Sophisticated and worldly-wise to the point of cynicism: Describes a person who is very experienced and knowledgeable about the world, often appearing unimpressed or nonchalant as a result.

Usage Examples

• Adjective:
  • He had a blase attitude toward the luxury cars, having grown up around them.
  • The critic gave a blase shrug after seeing yet another predictable film.
  • Her blase manner during the crisis surprised everyone.

Advanced Usage

• Used to describe a demeanor or attitude: Often modifies nouns like "attitude," "air," "manner," "shrug," or "indifference."
  • She answered with blase certainty, as if the outcome was never in doubt.
• Implies a contrast: The blase individual's lack of interest often contrasts with the excitement or novelty perceived by others.
  • The children were thrilled by the parade, but their blase teenager merely glanced up from his phone.

Variants and Related Words

• Worldly (adj): Experienced and knowledgeable about human affairs, but not necessarily implying boredom.
• Jaded (adj): Tired, bored, or lacking enthusiasm, typically from having had too much of something. This is a close synonym but often carries a stronger sense of being worn out.
• Nonchalant (adj): Feeling or appearing casually calm and relaxed; not displaying anxiety, interest, or enthusiasm. While similar, "nonchalant" does not inherently stem from overexposure.

Synonyms

• Unimpressed: Not feeling admiration or interest.
• Weary: Feeling or showing tiredness, especially as a result of excessive exertion or lack of excitement.
• Bored: Feeling weary and impatient because one is unoccupied or lacks interest in one's current activity.
• Cynical: Believing that people are motivated purely by self-interest; distrustful of human sincerity or integrity. This relates to the "worldly-wise" aspect of blase.

Related Phrases and Idioms

• A blase attitude: A common collocation describing a general demeanor of indifference.
  • He maintained a blase attitude toward the rumors.
• To be blase about something: A standard phrase structure for using the adjective.
  • You shouldn't be blase about your health.

Adjective

1. nonchalantly unconcerned
   • a blase attitude about housecleaning
2. uninterested because of frequent exposure or indulgence
   • his blase indifference
   • a petulant blase air
   • the bored gaze of the successful film star
3. very sophisticated especially because of surfeit; versed in the ways of the world
   • the blase traveler refers to the ocean he has crossed as `the pond'
   • the benefits of his worldly wisdom