as in arrogance
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Recent Examples of cockiness
Wednesday’s briefing, for example, featured the usual Hegseth hubris, strutting, and cockiness.
—
Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Some players exhibit confidence that borders on cockiness.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The great thing is society already embraces cockiness—just not from women.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
While the critics howled during that 1-15 season in 1989, Johnson and even his assistants maintained their cockiness and mocked the criticism.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
Most of the Teds depicted are young—discovering the look, and discovering themselves, in the full flush of masculine cockiness.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
What everybody loves about Ortegas is that can do mentality and also that cockiness.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
The film has that Scott-ian sleekness (but is really directed by Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa in his Hollywood debut), and Washington rules with his super-chill cockiness.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Some players exhibit confidence that borders on cockiness.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The great thing is society already embraces cockiness—just not from women.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
While the critics howled during that 1-15 season in 1989, Johnson and even his assistants maintained their cockiness and mocked the criticism.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
Most of the Teds depicted are young—discovering the look, and discovering themselves, in the full flush of masculine cockiness.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
What everybody loves about Ortegas is that can do mentality and also that cockiness.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
The film has that Scott-ian sleekness (but is really directed by Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa in his Hollywood debut), and Washington rules with his super-chill cockiness.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cockiness
Noun
-
Too few compliments make kids feel slighted, while too many can inspire arrogance.—
Wayne Parker,
Parents,
8 Mar. 2026
-
Adam McKay’s toxically smug dissection of Dick Cheney fails to take the full measure of this monstrous vice-president, but even so, Bale taps into something elemental about the man’s arrogance and domineering personality.—
Tim Grierson,
Vulture,
7 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
If Garnacho’s problem is overconfidence, Gittens’ is the opposite.—
Cerys Jones,
New York Times,
28 Feb. 2026
-
Wroblewski’s biggest fear is overconfidence.—
John Wawrow,
Twin Cities,
15 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
Pollack’s self-confidence is the ultimate security blanket for the Warriors.—
Steve Reaven,
Chicago Tribune,
5 Mar. 2026
-
An expert shares tips to help your children develop self-esteem and self-confidence.—
Emily Edlynn,
Parents,
28 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
With layers that start below the chin and frame your face so flattering, this hairstyle is supposed to exude the self-assurance and effortlessly chic attitude of the quintessential 1990s model cuts (think Cindy Crawford and Claudia Schiffer).—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
7 Mar. 2026
-
Jackson was renowned for his soaring rhetoric, his role in the civil-rights movement, and his sharp elbows, but what first struck me about him, as a young reporter only a couple of years out of journalism school, was his boundless energy and self-assurance.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
23 Feb. 2026
Noun
-
For all his brashness, intensity and unyielding quest for detailed excellence, his presence is far from the detached authoritarian persona of the man who coached him in New England, six-time Super Bowl winner Bill Belichick.—
Michael Silver,
New York Times,
5 Feb. 2026
-
In recent years, Ye’s irreverence and brashness shifted into something darker and far more dangerous.—
Chris Murphy,
Vanity Fair,
26 Jan. 2026
Noun
-
Your confidence is boosted by Love Goddess Venus sextiling powerful Pluto — and with Venus in your sign, that boost is even stronger.—
Tarot.com,
Hartford Courant,
10 Mar. 2026
-
Your quick mind spots what to improve, and your confidence helps others get on board.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
9 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Anthropic sought assurance that its technology would not be tapped for fully autonomous weapons or domestic mass surveillance, but the DOD wanted Anthropic to grant the agency unfettered access to Claude across all lawful purposes.—
Ashley Capoot,
CNBC,
6 Mar. 2026
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But even after those assurances, the Select Board is holding on tight to its March 17 deadline to issue an entertainment license for FIFA to hold the World Cup at Gillette.—
Lance Reynolds,
Boston Herald,
5 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cockiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cockiness. Accessed 13 Mar. 2026.
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