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
Amid the cocksure bravado of the adventure-sports world, fluidity is read as weakness.
—
Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2020
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
After the evacuation, the four Brits were skewered as irresponsible and cocksure by Icelanders and media outlets around the world.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2016
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2020
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
After the evacuation, the four Brits were skewered as irresponsible and cocksure by Icelanders and media outlets around the world.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2016
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocksure
Adjective
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There’s also a fine array of actors here: Idris makes a fine cocky young upstart.—
Stephanie Zacharek,
Time,
17 June 2025
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The Pacers, who are young and fast and talented and cocky and on some heater themselves, think this is their time.—
Mike Lupica,
New York Daily News,
20 May 2025
Adjective
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Brother Rice coach Sean McBride felt confident giving Sheehan the ball.—
Steve Millar,
Chicago Tribune,
14 June 2025
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Companies that use a lot of fuel as part of their business and need their customers feeling confident enough to travel fell to some of the sharpest losses.—
Stan Choe,
Los Angeles Times,
13 June 2025
Adjective
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Over the last two seasons, Alexander has missed 20 games due to injury, and adding him into a cornerback room that is already reeling from health issues would not be the wisest decision.—
Nick Harris,
Fort Worth Star-Telegram,
9 June 2025
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Which is wiser: Spending money on more firefighting resources after wildfires break out and absorbing the extraordinary cost of damages, or investing in technologies and training to prevent wildfires from happening in the first place?—
Abhishek Singh,
Forbes.com,
30 May 2025
Adjective
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On its current trajectory, the surest promise that generative AI offers is not creating new originators, but massively scaling up the production of derivative art.—
Sheldon Pearce,
NPR,
17 June 2025
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Assuming the keynote is on Sept. 10, or one day that week, the release date, as sure as eggs is eggs, will be the Friday of the following week: Friday, Sept. 19.—
David Phelan,
Forbes.com,
17 June 2025
Adjective
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One chord appears to speak to the other, sounding almost impudent in their simplicity, equal parts ecstatic and heartbreakingly melancholic.—
Sam Davies,
Rolling Stone,
10 Mar. 2025
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In short, Moscow sees Montenegro as both strategically valuable and an impudent upstart that has thumbed its nose at the Russian bear while genuflecting before NATO and Washington.—
Edward P. Joseph,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Dec. 2016
Adjective
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One’s insolent, calling him lame and old, and the other affectedly infantile, but both are exhausting in their own way.—
Keith Phipps,
Vulture,
16 Apr. 2025
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The government, in an insolent filing on Sunday evening, rewrote that instruction.—
Ruth Marcus,
New Yorker,
14 Apr. 2025
Adjective
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Joya remembers her late husband’s brazen attitude in making that partnership happen: Herb had walked into the school district’s headquarters and asked to speak to the top person in charge.—
Michael Butler,
Miami Herald,
7 June 2025
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Meanwhile, there is brazen talk that AGI is just around the corner.—
Lance Eliot,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Adjective
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From the postwar period to present, perhaps no nation of carmakers has made bolder strides or wielded greater influence on manufacturers and consumers alike than Japan.—
Robert Ross,
Robb Report,
6 June 2025
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Running a small business is a bold and courageous endeavor.—
AllBusiness,
Forbes.com,
6 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cocksure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocksure. Accessed 21 Jun. 2025.
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