cocky

adjective

ˈkä-kē 

cockier; cockiest

1

: boldly or brashly self-confident

a cocky young actor

he is invariably a smug and cocky stuffed shirt

—James Thurber

2

: jaunty

cockily

ˈkä-kə-lē 

adverb

cockiness

ˈkä-kē-nəs 

noun

Synonyms of cocky

• wise
• cocksure
• insolent
• sassy
• brazen
• impudent
• bold
• brash
• cheeky
• fresh
• brassy
• blunt
• defiant
• saucy
• assertive
• impertinent
• nervy
• audacious

Examples of cocky in a Sentence

Don't get too cocky about your chances of getting the job.

a cocky young actor who thought that he was God's gift to the theater

Recent Examples on the Web

Thanks to one impossibly cocky fighter pilot named Maverick, Reagan-era America never felt better about itself — or its military might. — Kevin P. Sullivan, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026

Sipos as Dean, the life of the party, confident bordering on cocky. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 June 2026

The city had a thriving poker scene in the early two-thousands, with enormous jackpots exchanging hands in empty warehouses and office parks, and Pughsley quickly earned a reputation for being loud and cocky. — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 2026

The two vivid soloists were tenor Anthony León as the cocky troubadour and baritone Eleomar Cuello as the cocky devil. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

see cock entry 1

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for cocky

• blocky
• chalky
• gawky
• hockey
• jockey
• khaki
• machi
• maki
• rocky
• stocky
• talkie
• walkie

Kids Definition

cocky

adjective

ˈkäk-ē 

cockier; cockiest

1

: being too sure of oneself

2

: jaunty

cockily

ˈkäk-ə-lē 

adverb

cockiness

ˈkäk-ē-nəs 

noun