1
as in cocky
displaying or marked by rude boldness
his cocksure assertion that only he could solve the problem
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2
as in confident
having or showing a mind free from doubt
you're always so cocksure about everything
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cocksure
From the start, Mr. Koecher was at once brilliant and hard to take—cocksure and certain that he was destined for great things.
—
Edward Kosner, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022
So cocksure are they, even their hair seems to swagger.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022
Craig Kilborn, the fratty cocksure original host of The Daily Show, had gotten his big call-up from CBS to host the late-night slot following David Letterman’s, which was one of two jobs Stewart didn’t get.
—Devin Gordon, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2022
Amid the cocksure bravado of the adventure-sports world, fluidity is read as weakness.
—Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Edward Kosner, WSJ, 25 Aug. 2022
So cocksure are they, even their hair seems to swagger.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022
Craig Kilborn, the fratty cocksure original host of The Daily Show, had gotten his big call-up from CBS to host the late-night slot following David Letterman’s, which was one of two jobs Stewart didn’t get.
—Devin Gordon, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2022
Amid the cocksure bravado of the adventure-sports world, fluidity is read as weakness.
—Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2020
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocksure
Adjective
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Vinnie Barbarino Was a Standout John Travolta’s Vinnie was known for his cocky swagger and flirtatious antics.—
Marc Berman,
Forbes.com,
9 Sep. 2025
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Compliments find you with greater ease, too; with Venus, your planetary ruler, now in Leo, your magnetism is louder and your confidence reads as warm, not cocky.—
Dossé-Via Trenou,
Refinery29,
7 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Republican strategist Michael Biundo was among many to observe how confident Kirk was from the jump, how undaunted by being new to the scene and often the youngest person in the mix.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
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It was created with the intention of promoting AI fluency and a future-ready, AI-confident workforce.—
Malana VanTyler,
USA Today,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Either by choice or otherwise, Wolves lost seven players who appeared regularly in the first team last season and brought in six new faces, so numbers-wise, there is little difference.—
Steve Madeley,
New York Times,
15 Sep. 2025
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The measure further reduces offshore drilling, but the effort to compensate in a region that is highly dependent on the oil industry was a wise move.—
The Editorial Board,
Oc Register,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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The director is also sure to face questions about the scores of firings that have rocked the bureau, the FBI’s role in reviewing the Epstein files and a number of other moves that Democrats argue have politicized the FBI.—
Rebecca Beitsch,
The Hill,
15 Sep. 2025
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Meltzer is not quite sure how to handle this phase of Birkin’s life.—
Anahid Nersessian,
New Yorker,
15 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Gemma reluctantly agrees to rebuild her impudent robot in a new body, and the sequel ends with an explosive showdown between Amelia and M3GAN, who nearly dies in a noble attempt to save Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
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Fortunately, Snow White’s newfound enlightenment does not deny her the possibility of romance, although princes are now strictly off-limits; her love interest here is a fetchingly impudent bandit, Jonathan (Andrew Burnap), who is leading a scrappy rebellion against the Evil Queen.—
Justin Chang,
The New Yorker,
22 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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Beautiful, not perfect; Alex can be rude, insolent, and subject to wild emotional swings and failures of decorum and logic.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
14 Aug. 2025
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The movie’s startling originality is in its spirit, its insolent ironies.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
30 July 2025
Adjective
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While earlier incidents against Jewish sites, coming amid the backlash over the soaring death toll in Israel’s conflict in Gaza, sparked a media frenzy around this particularly act of brazen antisemitism, the pigs’ heads did not have the same effect.—
Saskya Vandoorne,
CNN Money,
12 Sep. 2025
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But in recent years, acts of brazen violence have been the grim drumbeat of a debased national politics.—
Eric Cortellessa,
Time,
11 Sep. 2025
Adjective
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Now, Courtney Brown, an associate professor at Southern Methodist University (SMU), has taken a bold and creative step forward.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
14 Sep. 2025
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Backstage, hair and makeup looks were designed to echo the avant-garde edge of his collection—a reminder that timeless beauty can be both bold and modern.—
Essence,
Essence,
14 Sep. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cocksure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocksure. Accessed 17 Sep. 2025.
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