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
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Recent Examples of cocky
The final movement starts off with a timpani riff, which triggers a cocky dance that invokes Peterson’s high-speed fingers, shooting off at Road Runner pace.
—
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Bassel stands at the center of the frame, looking cocky and slightly bored, with his parents seated in front of him and his siblings on either side.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But everybody’s favorite NFL linebacker is allowed to be cocky.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Matthews too recalled Salamone as abrasive and cocky.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cocky
Justin Davidson, Vulture, 3 Mar. 2026
Bassel stands at the center of the frame, looking cocky and slightly bored, with his parents seated in front of him and his siblings on either side.
—Robert F. Worth, The Atlantic, 6 Feb. 2026
But everybody’s favorite NFL linebacker is allowed to be cocky.
—Samyra, SELF, 14 Jan. 2026
Matthews too recalled Salamone as abrasive and cocky.
—J.c. Hallman, Oklahoma Watch, 13 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for cocky
Recent Examples of Synonyms for cocky
Adjective
-
Policymakers, especially here in Tokyo, would be wise to accept more foreign workers to plug labor gaps, but that’s not a durable answer on its own.—
Catherine Thorbecke,
Twin Cities,
25 Apr. 2026
-
Steinberg believes the fit will work out well football wise and business wise.—
Jackson Thompson,
FOXNews.com,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Ruben, meanwhile, is cocksure and charismatic but has a criminal record and a tendency toward violence.—
Ryan Lattanzio,
IndieWire,
7 Apr. 2026
-
Beane was so cocksure Allen’s solo act would work again that the GM made only minor moves to improve the offense.—
Tim Graham,
New York Times,
16 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
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
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Malinin’s confidence would be insolent if his acrobatics weren’t so astonishing.—
Sally Jenkins,
The Atlantic,
1 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Ever the sassy songwriter, Musgraves handles these specters like a pro with witty write-offs.—
Maya Georgi,
Rolling Stone,
30 Apr. 2026
-
While Vosk’s sassier Cee Cee holds her own in the churn, Barrett, also a fine singer but trapped in the straight-and-narrow part (with sadder wigs), gets swept out to sea.—
Sara Holdren,
Vulture,
23 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
This is a brazen violation of international law.—
Lincoln Anderson,
New York Daily News,
1 May 2026
-
In a brazen attempt in December, a briefcase filled with pigeons stuffed in socks was intercepted at Latvia's border with Russia.—
Sharyn Alfonsi,
CBS News,
26 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
His first goal was pretty enough, an inch-perfect sidefoot just inside Donnarumma’s far post, but his second was a work of impudent art.—
Liam Twomey,
New York Times,
11 Mar. 2026
-
Gemma reluctantly agrees to rebuild her impudent robot in a new body, and the sequel ends with an explosive showdown between Amelia and M3GAN, who nearly dies in a noble attempt to save Gemma and her niece, Cady (Violet McGraw).—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
29 June 2025
Adjective
-
The six draft picks are listed in bold.—
Josh Kendall,
New York Times,
27 Apr. 2026
-
The bold, eye-catching top boasts a longline design, much like the exercise styles of the early 2000s, and the colorblock finish is the icing on the cake.—
Merrell Readman,
Travel + Leisure,
27 Apr. 2026
Adjective
-
Hsu shines as Janet, whose trip to the castle inspires a self-discovery journey that evolves from wide-eyed, tightly wound innocence to brash confidence.—
Dave Quinn,
PEOPLE,
24 Apr. 2026
-
To wriggle out of Joseph’s grasp, Michael hires a brash young lawyer, John Branca, played by Miles Teller, who lends the coolly confident character a delightfully rough edge.—
Richard Brody,
New Yorker,
23 Apr. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Cocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/cocky. Accessed 1 May. 2026.
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