overconfidence
noun
over·con·fi·dence
ˌō-vər-ˈkän-fə-dən(t)s 
-ˌden(t)s
: an excess of confidence (as in one's abilities or judgment) : confidence that is not justified
warned against overconfidence when investing
People tend to overestimate their skills behind the wheel and underestimate the skills of the boobs and psychopaths driving around them, a phenomenon that psychologists call "optimism bias" and the rest of us simply call delusional overconfidence.—
David H. Freedman
David H. FreedmanExamples of overconfidence in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Some of the stories are straightforward parables about the perils of overconfidence or a desire for clarity.
—Robert Rubsam, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The technique selectively addressed the problem of overconfidence in one’s knowledge, a characteristic of a lack of intellectual humility.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 24 Jan. 2024
Cora is masterful in her overconfidence, a defense mechanism for being very much in denial about something—but the film takes its time revealing what is really going on with her.
—Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 14 June 2024
Yet the risk of American miscalculations and overconfidence will creep up over time.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overconfidence 
Robert Rubsam, Washington Post, 24 June 2024
The technique selectively addressed the problem of overconfidence in one’s knowledge, a characteristic of a lack of intellectual humility.
—The Editors, JSTOR Daily, 24 Jan. 2024
Cora is masterful in her overconfidence, a defense mechanism for being very much in denial about something—but the film takes its time revealing what is really going on with her.
—Alex Jhamb Burns, Vogue, 14 June 2024
Yet the risk of American miscalculations and overconfidence will creep up over time.
—Suzanne Maloney, Foreign Affairs, 8 Apr. 2024
See all Example Sentences for overconfidence
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overconfidence.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
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Cite this Entry
“Overconfidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overconfidence. Accessed 2 Jul. 2024.
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