as in arrogance
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Recent Examples of cockiness
Robert Romanus, as Damone, would scalp Ozzy Osbourne tickets to his grandmother, and yet deftly treads the tightrope between cockiness and desperation.
—
Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Wednesday’s briefing, for example, featured the usual Hegseth hubris, strutting, and cockiness.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Some players exhibit confidence that borders on cockiness.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The great thing is society already embraces cockiness—just not from women.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
While the critics howled during that 1-15 season in 1989, Johnson and even his assistants maintained their cockiness and mocked the criticism.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
Most of the Teds depicted are young—discovering the look, and discovering themselves, in the full flush of masculine cockiness.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
What everybody loves about Ortegas is that can do mentality and also that cockiness.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
The film has that Scott-ian sleekness (but is really directed by Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa in his Hollywood debut), and Washington rules with his super-chill cockiness.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Gina Friedlande, HollywoodReporter, 7 Apr. 2026
Wednesday’s briefing, for example, featured the usual Hegseth hubris, strutting, and cockiness.
—Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 6 Mar. 2026
Some players exhibit confidence that borders on cockiness.
—Andrew Baggarly, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
The great thing is society already embraces cockiness—just not from women.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
While the critics howled during that 1-15 season in 1989, Johnson and even his assistants maintained their cockiness and mocked the criticism.
—Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News, 12 Jan. 2026
Most of the Teds depicted are young—discovering the look, and discovering themselves, in the full flush of masculine cockiness.
—Rebecca Mead, New Yorker, 13 Dec. 2025
What everybody loves about Ortegas is that can do mentality and also that cockiness.
—Adam B. Vary, Variety, 5 Sep. 2025
The film has that Scott-ian sleekness (but is really directed by Swedish filmmaker Daniel Espinosa in his Hollywood debut), and Washington rules with his super-chill cockiness.
—Tim Grierson, Vulture, 15 Aug. 2025
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cockiness
Noun
-
The doctor further explained that the traits of a narcissist encompass low empathy, arrogance, entitlement, grandiosity and pathological selfishness.—
Brie Stimson,
FOXNews.com,
26 Apr. 2026
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They both, in a good way, reek of confidence – not arrogance but confidence.—
Miami Herald,
Miami Herald,
26 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Every generation faces a new wave of technological disruption and responds with the same blend of overconfidence, short-termism, and reluctance to let go of what’s working.—
Nick Lichtenberg,
Fortune,
23 Apr. 2026
-
How many times over two decades have the Canes been tripped up by teams with lesser talent, due to overconfidence and myriad other reasons?—
Barry Jackson,
Miami Herald,
21 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Many people started talking about cosmetic surgery as a personal desire, a way to build self-confidence.—
Rheana Murray,
The Atlantic,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Gardening fosters life skills, such as teamwork, patience, self-confidence and responsibility.—
Shelley Mitchell,
The Conversation,
23 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
Her self-assurance has kept her armored against the backlash and backhanded compliments that have surfaced in some online discourse surrounding her music.—
Larisha Paul,
Rolling Stone,
25 Mar. 2026
-
Stylist Sydnee Paige—whose credits include actress Kerry Washington, WNBA player Skylar Diggins, and comedian Ziwe—has been working with Fudd since last September and can already attest to her blooming self-assurance.—
Jordan Robinson,
SELF,
19 Mar. 2026
Noun
-
The México 86 producers set out to capture the music, fashions and general brashness of the era.—
Stewart Clarke,
Deadline,
23 Apr. 2026
-
Carolina did make one addition, trading for fighter Nic Deslauriers, but the brashness the Hurricanes’ front office has shown in recent years didn’t lead to the type of headline-making move seen in recent seasons.—
Cory Lavalette,
New York Times,
10 Mar. 2026
Noun
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The speed with which some fan confidence in him has eroded was, nevertheless, unprecedented considering no Liverpool manager (or in Slot’s case, head coach) has delivered the league title at the end of their first season since Kenny Dalglish in 1985-86.—
Simon Hughes,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
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Money, confidence or themes surrounding you are under the microscope today, asking you to stop settling for less.—
Valerie Mesa,
PEOPLE,
27 Apr. 2026
Noun
-
And, Muller said, there is no assurance Republicans would march in lockstep behind a plan to prevent the seating of Democrats.—
Mark Barabak,
Mercury News,
1 May 2026
-
Somehow, McCarthy’s assurance makes these clichés seem new again, donning them as naturally as O’Connell’s gawky bellboy wearing an old-fashioned red cap.—
Amy Nicholson,
Los Angeles Times,
30 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cockiness.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cockiness. Accessed 3 May. 2026.
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