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 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 That earns Maverick a reprimand and establishes him as a cocky, arrogant rule-breaker with a fierce loyalty to his fellow pilots. — ArsTechnica, 21 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocky

Adjective

Salaun isn’t going to be judged fully by his production over the last week-plus numbers-wise, including his 18 points against Sacramento in the finale.

— Roderick Boone, Charlotte Observer, 18 July 2026
Everyone’s waiting on the old GOAT Last night was pretty light game-wise, thanks to the MLB All-Star break, the World Cup progression and … a faulty WNBA plane.

— Chris Branch, New York Times, 17 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

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
Meanwhile, the insolent and hyper-confident Ruben (Stuart Campbell as a teen and Gadd as a grown-up) has been in trouble with the law from a tender age.

— Carlos Aguilar, Los Angeles Times, 23 Apr. 2026

Definition of insolent

Adjective

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
But Liberace was perhaps most beloved for his sassy patter with the audience, over-the-top costumes, and unforgettable performance style—which often involved him being driven onto the stage in a Rolls-Royce.

— Eleni N. Gage, Architectural Digest, 7 July 2026

Definition of sassy

Adjective

This brazen act should be seen as nothing more than an attempt to prevent the public from knowing what is happening in their country by intimidating journalists from doing their jobs.

— David Folkenflik, NPR, 11 July 2026
That’s despite Musk promising Tesla’s fleet would grow to hundreds of thousands by the end of this year, a characteristically brazen prediction with little bearing on reality.

— Victor Tangermann, Futurism, 9 July 2026

Definition of brazen

Adjective

SpaceX thinks Starship's combination of power and reusability will revolutionize spaceflight, allowing humanity to settle the moon and Mars, among other bold exploration feats.

— Mike Wall, Space.com, 16 July 2026
Last year, the Food and Drug Administration removed a bold safety warning about possible heart risks with testosterone pills, gels, injections and patches, based on recent data that showed no increase in those problems.

— Matthew Perrone, Fortune, 16 July 2026

Definition of bold

Adjective

Philadelphia's mayor at the time, Frank Rizzo, was a brash and brutal populist with a knack for fear-mongering that would make America's current president envious.

— Chris Brennan, USA Today, 2 July 2026
Like Alura, Virgos prefer to be overly cautious rather than acting brash.

— Lisa Stardust, PEOPLE, 26 June 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 20 Jul. 2026.

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Synonyms of cocky

adjective

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