1
as in cocky
displaying or marked by rude boldness
his cocksure assertion that only he could solve the problem
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in confident
having or showing a mind free from doubt
you're always so cocksure about everything
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as in certainty
a state of mind in which one is free from doubt
the cocksureness with which he presented his investment scheme convinced others to jump in
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of 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
Adjective
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
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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Currently, the scientist can't be totally confident that these spikes are connected to supernovas.—
Robert Lea,
Space.com,
13 June 2025
Noun
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Finally, in this chronically complex and volatile world the temptation in the C-suite is to avoid communicating with stakeholders in the absence of certainty.—
Paul Laudicina,
Forbes.com,
23 June 2025
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But in these times of economic volatility — first, a pandemic, then rampant inflation and now the uncertainty tied to trade policy in Washington, D.C. — there are few certainties in the business world.—
The Editorial Board,
Chicago Tribune,
23 June 2025
Adjective
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Washington eventually adopted more sensible approaches that mobilized the resources of key allies, developed a wiser balance between conventional and nuclear tools, and assumed a less confrontational attitude toward Moscow.—
JENNIFER LIND,
Foreign Affairs,
24 June 2025
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Those who are successful in the job market learn how to embrace tradeoffs to make wise choices.—
Michael B. Horn,
Time,
24 June 2025
Adjective
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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
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If Nintendo notices the same cryptographic signature on security certificates being used by hundreds of different consoles and accounts, for instance, the company can be relatively sure that all those users are engaging in piracy.—
ArsTechnica,
ArsTechnica,
17 June 2025
Noun
-
That’s far more than hollow audit committee charters, toothless assurance models and self-congratulatory periodic reporting.—
Noah Barsky,
Forbes.com,
11 June 2025
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Student loan borrowers enrolled in the federal Saving on a Valuable Education (SAVE) plan reported unexpected increases in their loan balances, despite government assurances that no interest would accrue during their forbearance period.—
Suzanne Blake,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 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
Noun
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Athit Perawongmetha | Reuters China is devising more ways for foreign institutions to use the yuan, as international confidence in the U.S. dollar falters.—
Lee Ying Shan,Evelyn Cheng,
CNBC,
25 June 2025
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Khan said the data actually instills confidence in the health of the overall housing market.—
Nick Mordowanec,
MSNBC Newsweek,
25 June 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cocksure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocksure. Accessed 28 Jun. 2025.
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