cocky

adjective

ˈkä-kē How to pronounce cocky (audio)
cockier; cockiest
Synonyms of cocky
1
: boldly or brashly self-confident
a cocky young actor
he is invariably a smug and cocky stuffed shirt—James Thurber
2
: jaunty
cockily
ˈkä-kə-lē How to pronounce cocky (audio)
adverb
cockiness
ˈkä-kē-nəs How to pronounce cocky (audio)
noun

Synonyms of cocky

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Examples of cocky in a Sentence

Don't get too cocky about your chances of getting the job. a cocky young actor who thought that he was God's gift to the theater
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Innanen‘s characters in the five-episode series include a manager lacking confidence, a cocky cruise specialist, an adventure expert who deeply fears adventure and a Francophile who hasn‘t left American soil since the late ’90s. — Katie Kilkenny, HollywoodReporter, 14 Oct. 2026 On the field, there’s drama between head coach Danny Roarke (Christopher Meloni) and the cocky quarterback. — Jason P. Frank, Vulture, 13 Oct. 2026 The recruits are rounded out by Jude Callan (Ronen Rubinstein), a charming, cocky bad boy with unexpected depth. — Aramide Tinubu, Variety, 25 Sep. 2026 Delafonte is Playboy Ray, a cocky, obnoxious, and supremely talented all-around cowboy. — Denise Petski, Deadline, 25 Sep. 2026 See All Example Sentences for cocky

Word History

Etymology

see cock entry 1

First Known Use

1768, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of cocky was in 1768

Rhymes for cocky

See All Rhymes for cocky

Browse Nearby Words

cock-up splint
cocky
cocky's joy
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Cocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocky. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

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Kids Definition

cocky

adjective
ˈkäk-ē How to pronounce cocky (audio)
cockier; cockiest
1
: being too sure of oneself
2
: jaunty
cockily
ˈkäk-ə-lē How to pronounce cocky (audio)
adverb
cockiness
ˈkäk-ē-nəs How to pronounce cocky (audio)
noun
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