COCKINESS Synonyms: 63 Similar and Opposite Words

cockiness

noun

Definition of cockiness

as in arrogance

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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 And the 24-year-old has done it, as most of you have surely heard after his back-and-forth with Dončić in the opener, with a level of cockiness rarely seen from a first-timer of any age. — Dan Woike, New York Times, 28 Oct. 2026 The rookie quarterback understands there's a clear distinction, though, between poise and cockiness. — Cbs New York Team, CBS News, 13 Aug. 2026 But he has been accused of inflating his role in some projects and demonstrating a self-confidence that borders on cockiness. — Tracy Grant, Encyclopedia Britannica, 7 Aug. 2026 As the first officer of the Enterprise, Riker exuded confidence, swagger, and just enough cockiness to keep things interesting. — Chris Snellgrove, Entertainment Weekly, 21 July 2026 His cockiness on the court is well-earned. — José Criales-Unzueta, Vanity Fair, 12 May 2026 Robert Romanus, as Damone, would scalp Ozzy Osbourne tickets to his grandmother, and yet deftly treads the tightrope between cockiness and desperation. — Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026 Wednesday’s briefing, for example, featured the usual Hegseth hubris, strutting, and cockiness. — Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026 The great thing is society already embraces cockiness—just not from women. — Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cockiness

Noun

But the Workers’ Party (PT) leader, who was accused of arrogance and of failing to understand the needs of young gig-economy workers, shook up his strategy, said Igor Gielow in Folha de São Paulo.

— The Week UK, TheWeek, 31 Oct. 2026
McVay and Snead have effectively built a culture of arrogance.

— Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 24 Oct. 2026

Definition of arrogance

Noun

Democrats are cautioning against overconfidence, and discussing how to translate their midterm success into more lasting power.

— Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 6 Nov. 2026
Today, experts say, the phrase is in danger of becoming synonymous with the potentially enormous costs of overconfidence, complacency, and an unwillingness to change.

— Mark Sappenfield, Christian Science Monitor, 2 Nov. 2026

Definition of overconfidence

Noun

On top of that, the mental load that comes with handling a health crisis like cancer can do a number on a woman’s body image and self-confidence.

— Helen Carefoot, Flow Space, 29 Oct. 2026
His campaign has targeted boosting school attendance and student self-confidence as the district’s two biggest challenges.

— Sophia Veneziano, San Antonio Express-News, 16 Oct. 2026

Definition of self-confidence

Noun

Reiter’s character’s brash self-assurance, along with her expressive face and physicality, really complement a deadpan Wickline.

— Rima Parikh, Vulture, 27 Sep. 2026
The 25-year-old from California opened the final with some swagger, popping four aces in the first game, but his self-assurance quickly ebbed.

— Ava Wallace, New York Times, 14 Aug. 2026

Definition of self-assurance

Noun

His brashness is his principal liability as an investigative journalist and his best asset, though of course that’s not how Lee would put it.

— Amanda Whiting, Vulture, 22 Oct. 2026
Fans walked around downtown in gear declaring their dominance - national championship tees and Rose Bowl jackets - and businesses hung signs in homage to their head coach’s brashness.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 17 Oct. 2026

Definition of brashness

Noun

Known for his confidence and aggressive playing style, Sears says his father has taught him the importance of staying humble and grounded despite his success.

— CBS News, CBS News, 11 Nov. 2026
But consumer demand in China has been suppressed as confidence took a hit from a prolonged property sector downturn among other factors.

— ABC News, ABC News, 10 Nov. 2026

Definition of confidence

Noun

Kempczinski’s assurance that the company had started to turn things around in the last month of the quarter helped revive a stock that had fallen a jarring 32% between February and October.

— Andrew Edgecliffe-Johnson, semafor.com, 6 Nov. 2026
Everyone’s inner monologue is narrated by no less than author Zadie Smith, whose voice-over’s cool assurance forms a productive contrast with the characters’ anxious scrambling.

— Alison Herman, Variety, 6 Nov. 2026

Definition of assurance

Browse Nearby Words

cockily

cockiness

cocking

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“Cockiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cockiness. Accessed 13 Nov. 2026.

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Synonyms of cockiness

noun

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