Definition of CONFIDANT

Synonyms & Antonyms for confidant

Synonyms

Antonyms

Is it confident or confidant? (Or is it confidante?)

If you find yourself unsure whether you should choose confident or confidant don’t feel bad; confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant. The difference is quite simple: confidant is a noun (meaning "a person in whom you confide things"), and confident is an adjective (defined as “having confidence”). You may well be confident in your confidant, but you would not be confidant in your confident. Although this distinction has not always been observed by writers, confidante is generally used for a female confidant. The word confidant is more frequently used to describe a man, but it may be applied to either gender.

Did You Know?

If you're confident of the trustworthiness of your confidants, you're inadvertently aware of the origins of the word confidant. It comes from the French noun confident, which goes back to the Italian adjective confidente, meaning "confident" or "trustworthy" and to the Latin verb confidere, meaning "to confide"—the root of which is fidere, meaning "to trust." Other descendants of confidere in English include confide, confidence,and confident, as well as confidential (which was formed from confidence).

Examples of confidant in a Sentence

He is a trusted confidant of the president. she's my confidant; I tell her everything without reservation

Recent Examples on the Web

After much eavesdropping and conniving, Masham eventually pushes Churchill to the side to become the queen’s personal confidant. — Brooke Bobb, Vogue, "Though They Look Regal, Sandy Powell’s Costumes for The Favourite Are Grounded in Reality," 20 Nov. 2018 With so many of Trump’s confidants going down for federal crimes and potentially more damaging information to come, does this spell the beginning of the end for the Trump administration? — Cindy Otis, Teen Vogue, "What the Manafort Verdict Means for President Donald Trump," 23 Aug. 2018 And up next, an Ingraham Angle exclusive with Omarosa's closest confidant in the Trump administration. — Fox News, "Lynne Patton responds to Omarosa audio tape," 15 Aug. 2018 Ethyl was a loyal friend and trusted confidant, and loved children, music, dancing, and family gatherings. — OrlandoSentinel.com, "Deaths in Central Florida: 7/5," 5 July 2018 The order marked the latest fall for the political power broker and confidant of Republican presidents dating to George H.W. Bush and Ronald Reagan. — Anchorage Daily News, "Paul Manafort ordered to jail after witness-tampering charges," 15 June 2018 His wife, Brooke Covington, is one of the most trusted confidants of church founder Jane Whaley, who members consider a prophet. — Washington Post, "2 members of secretive NC sect charged with fraud conspiracy," 9 June 2018 Is this perhaps a preview of other Trump confidants? — Chuck Todd, NBC News, "Republicans give Democrats some important cover on taxes, health care," 2 May 2018 Communications adviser Hope Hicks, one of Trump’s closest confidants, left on March 29, while National Security Adviser H.R. McMaster, Homeland Security adviser Tom Bossert and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson were all recently forced out. — Brian Bennett, Time, "Donald Trump Relied on Michael Cohen to Weather the Storm. Now The President Is On His Own," 12 Apr. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confidant.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.