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.
Sipos as Dean, the life of the party, confident bordering on cocky. — Rosy Cordero, Deadline, 25 June 2026 Lanky with striking red hair and a cocky demeanor, Clapper was dogged and respected by his fellow cops. — Joaquin Sapien, ProPublica, 30 June 2026 The two vivid soloists were tenor Anthony León as the cocky troubadour and baritone Eleomar Cuello as the cocky devil. — Classical Music Critic, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026 That earns Maverick a reprimand and establishes him as a cocky, arrogant rule-breaker with a fierce loyalty to his fellow pilots. — ArsTechnica, 21 May 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
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Cite this Entry

“Cocky.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cocky. Accessed 7 Jul. 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

More from Merriam-Webster on cocky

Nglish: Translation of cocky for Spanish Speakers

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