as in arrogance
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
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
-
Money and jealousy are the root of the play’s evils, with more deadly sins released in a world of posh, uppity arrogance.—
David John Chávez,
Mercury News,
27 Mar. 2026
-
In a study with 355 participants, the authors narrowed their list to 16 warning signs that predicted violence that occurred within six months — many of them having to do with entitlement, arrogance, control and emotional immaturity.—
Kristen Rogers,
CNN Money,
21 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The primary barriers here are overconfidence and lack of motivation.—
Alex Hutchinson,
Outside,
22 Mar. 2026
-
And like its Big Tech rivals, Meta is borrowing tens of billions a year to finance these deals — another possible sign of overconfidence.—
Allison Morrow,
CNN Money,
12 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Parents say having positive women of color as role models is crucial for building self-confidence in girls of color.—
Kamren Curiel,
Los Angeles Times,
27 Mar. 2026
-
The games have given multiple generations of American girls the chance for the life lessons, an identity and a source of self-confidence that sports can provide.—
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
27 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Her self-assurance has kept her armored against the backlash and backhanded compliments that have surfaced in some online discourse surrounding her music.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Stylist Sydnee Paige—whose credits include actress Kerry Washington, WNBA player Skylar Diggins, and comedian Ziwe—has been working with Fudd since last September and can already attest to her blooming self-assurance.—
Jordan Robinson,
SELF,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Carolina did make one addition, trading for fighter Nic Deslauriers, but the brashness the Hurricanes’ front office has shown in recent years didn’t lead to the type of headline-making move seen in recent seasons.—
Cory Lavalette,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 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
-
Protect playtime, and your confidence grows steadily.—
Tarot.com,
New York Daily News,
31 Mar. 2026
-
New Yorkers deserve confidence in their government.—
CBS New York Team,
CBS News,
31 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
Anthropic wanted assurances from the Pentagon that its AI chatbot would not be used for mass domestic surveillance or to operate fully autonomous weapons.—
Mike Brest,
The Washington Examiner,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Voters need more than voluntary assurances from tech companies, Sanders said Wednesday.—
Matthew Daly,
Fortune,
25 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cockiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cockiness. Accessed 2 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
