as in wise
displaying or marked by rude boldness
a cocky young actor who thought that he was God's gift to the theater
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Recent Examples of cocky
Bassel stands at the center of the frame, looking cocky and slightly bored, with his parents seated in front of him and his siblings on either side.
—
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But everybody’s favorite NFL linebacker is allowed to be cocky.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Matthews too recalled Salamone as abrasive and cocky.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
That album was all about funk, swagger, and celebration, with Mars positioning himself as the lovable, slightly cocky entertainer bringing the good times.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cocky
Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But everybody’s favorite NFL linebacker is allowed to be cocky.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Matthews too recalled Salamone as abrasive and cocky.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
That album was all about funk, swagger, and celebration, with Mars positioning himself as the lovable, slightly cocky entertainer bringing the good times.
—Hannah Abraham, Forbes.com, 7 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocky
Adjective
-
Diaz-Balart of Miami is among the Republicans now doubting redistricting is wise.—
Jeffrey Schweers,
The Orlando Sentinel,
11 Apr. 2026
-
David Schulte had helped other cities remove terrain and encourage water-wise sod installations, like a Tahoma 31 Bermuda grass blend.—
Gabriela Vidal,
CBS News,
10 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Ruben, meanwhile, is cocksure and charismatic but has a criminal record and a tendency toward violence.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Beane was so cocksure Allen’s solo act would work again that the GM made only minor moves to improve the offense.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Malinin’s confidence would be insolent if his acrobatics weren’t so astonishing.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
-
The fox would once have crushed this insolent creature with a swipe of her paw.—
Hazlitt,
Hazlitt,
19 Nov. 2025
Adjective
-
Pancake is known for her bold personality and sassy chaos, with profiles across TikTok, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube, as well as a merch page dedicated to her lovably lopsided smile.—
Hannah Hudnall,
USA Today,
14 Apr. 2026
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From Peel to Pulp Every part of this sassy citrus is edible and delightful–the juice, pulp, rind, and even the leaves used to make minty or fruity lemonades or Arnold Palmers, sweet and savory sauces, vinaigrettes, soups like Greek avgolemono, pilafs, picatas, risottos, and pasta dishes.—
Catharine Kaufman,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
12 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
For patrician statesmen, grandeur is usually understated, radiating restraint rather than gawk-inspiring shows of brazen wealth.—
Jeffrey Sonnenfeld,
Fortune,
13 Apr. 2026
-
Such institutional prejudice often surfaces, in ways both brazen and subtle, when Muslims attempt to build new places of worship or renovate existing ones.—
Connor Letourneau,
San Francisco Chronicle,
11 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His first goal was pretty enough, an inch-perfect sidefoot just inside Donnarumma’s far post, but his second was a work of impudent art.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
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
Adjective
-
His choreography, recreated from his work on the show, delivers big, bold, classic Broadway dance sequences that feel ripped from another era in the best way.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
21 Apr. 2026
-
This transit favors bold thinking backed by follow-through.—
Tarot.com,
The Orlando Sentinel,
20 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Dhillon, an Indian American immigrant who talks often about her Sikh faith, has long cultivated a brash, confrontational streak that has brought her to prominence within the Republican Party.—
Quinta Jurecic,
The Atlantic,
13 Apr. 2026
-
No wallflowers here; the women are brash, brassy, and refreshingly bold.—
Debby Wolfinsohn,
Entertainment Weekly,
13 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocky. Accessed 22 Apr. 2026.
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