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

Citing that mishap, as well as other instances of overconfidence from Iowa Democrats that the state could turn a bluer shade of purple, some Iowa Republicans are projecting confidence. — Justin Papp, CNBC, 24 June 2026

Journalists Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan tell the story of a president who fought his way back from 2021 political exile to the White House — and then allowed overconfidence, improvisation, and impulse to hobble his second presidency. — Ben Smith, semafor.com, 22 June 2026

Those red flags include things like surveys showing overconfidence in stocks and technical measures of tightening credit conditions. — Jim Edwards, Fortune, 9 June 2026

Bro cultures often incite overconfidence and a lack of calculated risk-taking, creating real financial implications for the companies where these exclusive networks exist. — Teresa Hopke, Forbes.com, 1 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overconfidence

• confidence