overconfidence

noun

over·​con·​fi·​dence ˌō-vər-ˈkän-fə-dən(t)s 

-ˌden(t)s

: an excess of confidence (as in one's abilities or judgment) : confidence that is not justified

warned against overconfidence when investing

People tend to overestimate their skills behind the wheel and underestimate the skills of the boobs and psychopaths driving around them, a phenomenon that psychologists call "optimism bias" and the rest of us simply call delusional overconfidence.

—David H. Freedman

Examples of overconfidence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Common biases include herd mentality, overconfidence, confirmation bias, loss aversion, and anchoring. —Chris Stevens, Nashville Tennessean, 19 Oct. 2025

Carolina is aiming for its first winning record through seven games since 2019, but can’t afford overconfidence, with winless NYJ a desperate, tempting home ‘dog. —Miami Herald, 16 Oct. 2025

True to his overconfidence-bordering-on-arrogance nature, new intern Wes earlier in the episode did not follow instructions and attended to patients without permission. —Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 16 Oct. 2025

The founders of our country understood the danger of arrogant overconfidence. —Dp Opinion, Denver Post, 26 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overconfidence

• confidence