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
Yann Gael, Roger Sallah and Mentor Ba entertain as tough guy gunslingers, but their cocksure attitude is tested when a paranormal foe threatens them and their stash of gold.
—
Thomas Page, CNN, 23 Sep. 2022
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
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Thomas Page, CNN, 23 Sep. 2022
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
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocksure
Adjective
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But his subtle brush-off of Collins is a sign of the cocky and brash kid already beginning to emerge — the same one who could cut down people down to size on his way to redefining himself and jolting both the New York folk scene and the world of pop at large.—
David Browne,
Rolling Stone,
26 Oct. 2025
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Don’t come on too hard or cocky; give practical reasons that showcase how your experience will benefit the company.—
Lisa Stardust,
PEOPLE,
21 Oct. 2025
Adjective
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If Purdy is still unable to take the field in Week 10, the 49ers are confident that Jones can continue his solid play at the quarterback position.—
Matt Audilet,
MSNBC Newsweek,
5 Nov. 2025
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Both Mason and Green are confident the race will be called quickly for Sheffield, who has been a frontrunner in the race.—
Dana Afana,
Freep.com,
5 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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Given the nature of debate around the use of AI in production, the note seems a wise one.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
4 Nov. 2025
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This wise, gentle character had been inhabited and portrayed by such eminent people.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
4 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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American leaders may be all-in on fossil fuels, but the rest of the world isn’t so sure.—
Nicholas Gordon,
Fortune,
3 Nov. 2025
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How to find your polling location Not sure where to go to vote?—
Chad Murphy,
Cincinnati Enquirer,
3 Nov. 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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That brazen theft met with a scattering of protests that were quickly put down.—
Quico Toro,
The Atlantic,
4 Nov. 2025
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Two more suspects have been arrested and charged in connection with the brazen daytime heist of Paris’ Louvre Museum, prosecutors say.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
2 Nov. 2025
Adjective
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That’s a bold way for a singer who hasn’t been known primarily for being in the theater arena that long to start off with — maybe too bold, in declaring that Streisand’s turf is her terra firma, too.—
Chris Willman,
Variety,
2 Nov. 2025
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Trading for Tucker ahead of his walk year was a bold action.—
Patrick Mooney,
New York Times,
2 Nov. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cocksure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocksure. Accessed 9 Nov. 2025.
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