1
as in cocky
displaying or marked by rude boldness
his cocksure assertion that only he could solve the problem
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2
as in confident
having or showing a mind free from doubt
you're always so cocksure about everything
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Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of cocksure
Amid the cocksure bravado of the adventure-sports world, fluidity is read as weakness.
—
Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2020
So cocksure are they, even their hair seems to swagger.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022
Craig Kilborn, the fratty cocksure original host of The Daily Show, had gotten his big call-up from CBS to host the late-night slot following David Letterman’s, which was one of two jobs Stewart didn’t get.
—Devin Gordon, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2022
After the evacuation, the four Brits were skewered as irresponsible and cocksure by Icelanders and media outlets around the world.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2016
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Alison Van Houten, Outside Online, 22 Aug. 2020
So cocksure are they, even their hair seems to swagger.
—San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 May 2022
Craig Kilborn, the fratty cocksure original host of The Daily Show, had gotten his big call-up from CBS to host the late-night slot following David Letterman’s, which was one of two jobs Stewart didn’t get.
—Devin Gordon, The Atlantic, 21 Apr. 2022
After the evacuation, the four Brits were skewered as irresponsible and cocksure by Icelanders and media outlets around the world.
—Devon O’Neil, Outside Online, 20 Apr. 2016
See All Example Sentences for cocksure
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocksure
Adjective
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Theroux treasures every silly little turn his cocky boss man gets to take.—
Ben Travers,
IndieWire,
27 Feb. 2025
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That Johnson, who has never been a head coach before, felt cocky enough to tell that story on the podium is a great thing.—
Jon Greenberg,
The Athletic,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Little ‘confident’ federal roles will remain even as layoffs begin Much of Idaho’s resiliency to federal funding cuts will depend on its maintenance of a state budget surplus, Little said Tuesday.—
Sarah Cutler,
Idaho Statesman,
26 Feb. 2025
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However, Gomes is confident that the winter moves have given the Dodgers some added adrenaline for 2025 and will offset a potential championship hangover.—
John Perrotto,
Forbes,
26 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Plunkett is not the first critic to trouble the popular conception of Frost as a wise woodsman dispensing comfort and inspiration.—
Maggie Doherty,
The New Yorker,
24 Feb. 2025
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The decision to put Kreider in over Kyle Connor, who has 30 goals this year, did not end up looking like a wise one.—
Arthur Staple,
The Athletic,
24 Feb. 2025
Adjective
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Investigators were not sure about the relationship with the boy who was killed.—
Noelle Alviz-Gransee,
Kansas City Star,
1 Mar. 2025
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Regardless of whether Congress cuts Medicaid funding this year, passing HB 2010 is the surest way to position us to accomplish those goals.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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More specifically, the impudent Skull Kid steals the Ocarina of Time and turns Link into a Deku Scrub, those antagonistic tree cannons first introduced in Ocarina.—
Ashley Bardhan,
Vulture,
27 Sep. 2024
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In short, Moscow sees Montenegro as both strategically valuable and an impudent upstart that has thumbed its nose at the Russian bear while genuflecting before NATO and Washington.—
Edward P. Joseph,
Foreign Affairs,
22 Dec. 2016
Adjective
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Parthenope is inscrutable yet expressive, insolent yet heroic, magnetic yet unattainable, loving yet selfish.—
Mike Miller,
EW.com,
12 Feb. 2025
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The officers weren't rude, angry, or insolent — as required of a battery conviction — and used their training and legal authority to do their jobs.—
Ryan Murphy,
The Indianapolis Star,
2 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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It’s gone on for so long, builders have become brazen.—
Josh Salman,
Miami Herald,
4 Mar. 2025
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If that turns out to be the case, legal experts and government officials say, the administration will have defied a federal judge’s order in a brazen gambit to continue dismantling USAID.—
Anna Maria Barry-Jester,
ProPublica,
1 Mar. 2025
Adjective
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New Balance 327 Shoes Everything about these New Balance shoes is chunky — the treads, the sole, and even the logo have a bold display that any maximalist dresser would find impressive.—
Alyssa Grabinski,
People.com,
2 Mar. 2025
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And Timothée Chalamet, nominated for Best Actor for his portrayal of Bob Dylan, made a splash, showing up in a bold pale yellow Givenchy suit, adorned with gold jewelry.—
Eliana Dockterman,
TIME,
2 Mar. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Cocksure.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocksure. Accessed 9 Mar. 2025.
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