Cockiness - Meaning, Definition & English Examples
Cockiness is excessive confidence or arrogance, often displayed in a bold or brash manner. It implies an overestimation of one’s abilities, sometimes leading to disregard for others.
Definition:
Overconfidence or arrogance, often displayed in a brash or boastful manner.
Synonyms:
arrogance, conceit, overconfidence, swagger
Part of Speech:
noun
Antonyms:
humility, modesty
Common Collocations:
display cockiness, exude cockiness, youthful cockiness, unchecked cockiness
Derivatives:
cocky, cockily
Usage Tips:
Use "cockiness" to describe someone’s excessive self-assurance that may annoy others; avoid for simple confidence.
Common Phrases:
full of cockiness, cockiness gets you nowhere, dial down the cockiness
Etymology:
Derived from "cocky" (early 19th c.), meaning overly self-assured, possibly from "cock" as in rooster’s bold demeanor.
Examples:
- 1. His cockiness made him unpopular with teammates.
- 2. She mistook his cockiness for genuine confidence.
- 3. Cockiness often hides deep insecurity.
- 4. The coach warned him about his unchecked cockiness.