COCKY Synonyms: 65 Similar and Opposite Words

cocky

adjective

ˈkä-kē

Definition of cocky

as in wise

displaying or marked by rude boldness a cocky young actor who thought that he was God's gift to the theater

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Example Sentences

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 cocky The city had a thriving poker scene in the early two-thousands, with enormous jackpots exchanging hands in empty warehouses and office parks, and Pughsley quickly earned a reputation for being loud and cocky. — Keith O’Brien, New Yorker, 25 June 2026 The two vivid soloists were tenor Anthony León as the cocky troubadour and baritone Eleomar Cuello as the cocky devil. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 The first book follows Hannah Wells (Bright), a smart and independent music major, and Garrett Graham (Cameli), the cocky captain of the hockey team. — Janelle Ash, FOXNews.com, 31 May 2026 In the show, shy Briar U music major Hannah Wells (Ella Bright) and cocky team captain Garrett Graham (Belmont Cameli) begin fake-dating to try to catch the attention of Hannah’s crush. — Bailey Bujnosek, InStyle, 28 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocky

Adjective

Personnel-wise, there are a lot of new faces with things to prove.

— Nick Harris, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 July 2026
This Zuko is older, calmer, wiser and the Fire Lord of his nation.

— Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 23 July 2026

Definition of wise

Adjective

The country’s website on the topic sports the cocksure hashtag #CroatiaYourNewOffice; Croatia’s focus on this segment of travelers has been so successful that researchers there published academic papers on the phenomenon.

— Scott Hocker, TheWeek, 14 July 2026
For one, Columbus’s face wears the haughtiest, most cocksure expression in Lewis’s body of work.

— Zachary Fine, New Yorker, 8 June 2026

Definition of cocksure

Adjective

That meant going their own way, being a little insolent and being arrogant.

— Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 12 July 2026
In the 18th century, lusty also meant insolent, which might have conveyed Anderson’s frustrations with Dina’s unwillingness to accept his authority over her.

— Carolyn Zola, The Conversation, 11 June 2026

Definition of insolent

Adjective

Back as recurring are OG Robert Maschio, reprising his role as The Todd, Vanessa Bayer as HR awkward head Sibby, and Michael James Scott as sassy charge nurse Dubois.

— Nellie Andreeva, Deadline, 20 July 2026
This book is what happens when a lonely child whose friends are mostly book & sitcom characters grows up and gets sassy.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 14 July 2026

Definition of sassy

Adjective

Their alliance signaled a brazen ambition to build the next great consumer product—this time for the AI age, and a bet that OpenAI, the maker of ChatGPT, could unseat the likes of Apple using the iPhone maker’s former design star.

— Emily Forlini, Fortune, 22 July 2026
Nine months after a brazen jewel heist left the Louvre scrambling, the museum has finally reopened the Apollo Gallery, where four masked thieves stole eight items valued collectively at $102 million.

— News Desk, Artforum, 22 July 2026

Definition of brazen

Adjective

Except the brash arrogance that long lived behind the slogan has taken a bit of a hit in recent years.

— Dana O’Neil, CNN Money, 20 July 2026
Today, the restaurants are still stellar, still brash, still pace-setting, but the past year or two have brought some small, subtle shifts—little concessions, maybe, to the normative American palate.

— Helen Rosner, New Yorker, 19 July 2026

Definition of brash

Browse Nearby Words

cock-ups

cocky

cocomposer

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“Cocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocky. Accessed 29 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of cocky

adjective

Example Sentences

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