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

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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 Responsible or not, Polly’s behavior is therefore at best cavalier, and at worst, especially during his police room interviews, downright cocky. — Jon O'Brien, IndieWire, 22 July 2026 Lanky with striking red hair and a cocky demeanor, Clapper was dogged and respected by his fellow cops. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 Thanks to one impossibly cocky fighter pilot named Maverick, Reagan-era America never felt better about itself — or its military might. — Kevin P. Sullivan, Entertainment Weekly, 26 June 2026 Sipos as Dean, the life of the party, confident bordering on cocky. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 June 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocky

Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocky

Adjective

Franchise-wise, Armani Beauty has Privè, with unisex couture fragrances; Giorgio Armani, which is premium, and Emporio Armani, embodying the brand’s younger, urban facet.

— Jennifer Weil, Footwear News, 6 Aug. 2026
While adding a tiny amount of salt to your coffee is generally safe, people on a low-salt diet or those with uncontrolled high blood pressure should consult a healthcare provider to see if this is a wise choice for them.

— Megan Nunn, Verywell Health, 6 Aug. 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

This hanging gnome decoration lives up to the sassy, saucy personality commensurate with garden gnomes.

— Stephanie Osmanski, Better Homes & Gardens, 28 July 2026
Then step up your baggy jeans game with some sassy satin sandals for an extra feminine touch to offset the boyish, loose fit.

— Kevin Huynh, InStyle, 26 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

One bold element makes an impact, but wouldn’t both be overwhelming?

— Kelsey Mulvey, Vogue, 6 Aug. 2026
Five of the paintings have been newly cleaned, their brilliant palettes revealing a bold, experimental hand that deployed academic modeling and Impressionistic dissolution side by side.

— Carmen Rosenberg-Miller, Artforum, 6 Aug. 2026

Definition of bold

Adjective

Outside groups spent more than $63 million supporting Haley Stevens, a candidate backed by the establishment, dwarfing the amount spent on her opponent, a brash progressive named Abdul El-Sayed with a war chest some nine times smaller.

— Aidan McLaughlin, Vanity Fair, 5 Aug. 2026
K-pop group Aespa is brash by nature, releasing songs with punchy lyrics and heavy on the bass.

— Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 3 Aug. 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 10 Aug. 2026.

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Synonyms of cocky

adjective

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