Cocky Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
"Cocky" describes a person who is overly confident and arrogant, often in a brash or showy way. e.g., His cocky attitude during the debate annoyed the audience.
Table of Contents
Cocky Definitions
Cocky refers to someone displaying excessive pride.
His cocky smirk revealed his overconfidence.
Cocky is used for someone who is presumptuously assertive.
The cocky salesperson promised more than he could deliver.
Cocky describes a person with an inflated sense of self-worth.
Her cocky attitude made teamwork difficult.
Cocky involves a person who flaunts their superiority.
The cocky student always bragged about his grades.
Cocky means overly self-confident or conceited.
The cocky player underestimated his opponent.
Cocky can describe a person who is arrogantly bold.
The cocky challenger boasted about his skills.
Cocky denotes a person who is overconfident to the point of rudeness.
His cocky comments during the meeting were off-putting.
Cocky can mean acting in a self-important or swaggering manner.
The cocky newcomer talked as if he owned the place.
Overly self-assertive or self-confident.
Overly confident; arrogant and boastful.
A (familiar name for a) cockatoo.
; (by extension) any farmer or owner of rural land.
To operate a small-scale farm.
Pert.
Overly self-confident or self-assertive;
A very cocky young man
Cocky pertains to showing disregard for others due to overconfidence.
The actor's cocky demeanor alienated his fans.
Cocky can refer to someone who is boldly self-assured.
The cocky athlete's predictions irritated the opposing team.
Cocky Snonyms
Conceited
Excessively proud of oneself; vain.
The conceited actor dismissed the critics.
Overconfident
Excessively confident; too sure of oneself.
Her overconfident manner was mistaken for expertise.
Pompous
Affectedly and irritatingly grand, solemn, or self-important.
The pompous lecturer spoke as if no one else knew anything.
Smug
Having or showing an excessive pride in oneself or one's achievements.
He had a smug look after winning the game.
Braggart
A person who boasts about achievements or possessions.
Nobody liked the braggart who always talked about his wealth.
Bumptious
Self-assertive or proud to an irritating degree.
The bumptious newcomer alienated his colleagues.
Self-assured
Confident in one's own abilities or character.
Her self-assured presentation impressed the audience.
Egotistical
Excessively conceited or absorbed in oneself; self-centered.
The egotistical artist ignored all other points of view.
Arrogant
Having or revealing an exaggerated sense of one's own importance or abilities.
His arrogant attitude turned off many people.
Swaggering
Walking or behaving in a very confident and typically arrogant or aggressive way.
The swaggering bully intimidated the other students.
Cocky Idioms & Phrases
Cocky attitude
Displaying an overly self-assured or arrogant demeanor.
His cocky attitude during the negotiations almost cost us the deal.
To get cocky
To become overly confident in one's abilities or prospects.
After winning a few matches, the team started to get cocky.
As cocky as a rooster
Extremely confident, sometimes to the point of arrogance.
He walked into the interview as cocky as a rooster, without a hint of nervousness.
A cocky grin
A self-satisfied, overly confident smile.
He had a cocky grin on his face after acing the test.
Cocky comeback
A response given with overconfidence or arrogance.
His cocky comeback during the debate didn't sit well with the audience.
Knock the cocky out of someone
To humble someone who is overly arrogant.
Losing the game really knocked the cocky out of him.
Too cocky for one's boots
Being overconfident to the point of rudeness or insolence.
He's become too cocky for his boots since he got promoted.
Cocky on the outside, insecure on the inside
Pretending to be very confident while actually feeling uncertain or anxious.
He appears cocky on the outside, but he's really quite unsure of himself.
Cocky under pressure
Remaining overconfident even in stressful or challenging situations.
Despite the risks, she remained cocky under pressure.
A cocky stance
Adopting a posture or attitude that exudes overconfidence.
He took a cocky stance, hands on hips, and challenged his opponent.
To talk cocky
To speak in an overly confident and often brash manner.
He talks cocky, but he rarely backs it up with action.
Born cocky
Naturally or inherently overconfident.
She’s been born cocky, always sure of herself since she was young.
Walk with a cocky swagger
To walk in an overly confident and arrogant manner.
He walked onto the stage with a cocky swagger.
Play cocky
To act in an overconfident and arrogant manner.
In an attempt to intimidate his rivals, he decided to play cocky.
A cocky outlook
Possessing an attitude that is presumptuously confident.
His cocky outlook made him unpopular with his peers.
Cocky in victory
Displaying excessive pride or arrogance after winning or succeeding.
They were cocky in victory, boasting about their triumph to everyone.
Cocky by nature
Having a natural tendency to be overly confident.
She's always been cocky by nature, even as a child.
A cocky challenge
A dare or provocation given with excessive confidence.
He issued a cocky challenge to his competitors, certain of his own skills.
Cocky Example Sentences
He walked into the room with a cocky stride.
Her cocky reply earned a few eye rolls.
The cocky attitude of the new player was noticeable.
Despite his cocky behavior, he was a good team player.
His cocky remarks were not well-received by the audience.
She was cocky about her chances in the competition.
He became cocky after winning a few games.
The cocky young musician boasted about her talent.
The cocky expression on his face was hard to miss.
The cocky pilot bragged about his flying skills.
The cocky statement in his speech caused a stir.
Her cocky stance showed her confidence.
She wore a cocky smile after solving the difficult problem.
The actor's cocky interviews made headlines.
He made a cocky prediction about the outcome of the match.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called cocky?
It is called "cocky" likely because of its association with the strutting, confident, and sometimes aggressive behavior of a rooster or "cock," symbolizing overconfidence or arrogance.
How many syllables are in cocky?
There are two syllables in "cocky."
What is a stressed syllable in cocky?
The stressed syllable in "cocky" is "cock."
How do we divide cocky into syllables?
Cocky is divided into syllables as cock-y.
How is cocky used in a sentence?
"His cocky attitude made it difficult for others to work with him."
What is the pronunciation of cocky?
Cocky is pronounced as /ˈkɒk.i/ or /ˈkɑː.ki/.
What is another term for cocky?
Another term for "cocky" is "arrogant" or "overconfident."
What is the root word of cocky?
The root word is "cock," referring to a rooster, from which the adjective derives its connotation of strutting confidence.
What is the singular form of cocky?
"Cocky" remains the same in both singular and plural contexts as an adjective.
What is the verb form of cocky?
"Cocky" is an adjective and does not have a direct verb form. However, a related verb might be "to cock," as in to tilt or turn up, which can sometimes metaphorically relate to the attitude described by "cocky."
What part of speech is cocky?
"Cocky" is an adjective.
Is cocky an adverb?
No, "cocky" is not an adverb.
Is cocky an abstract noun?
No, "cocky" is an adjective, not a noun.
Which determiner is used with cocky?
Determiners like "a," "the," "that," or "his/her" can be used with "cocky" when it modifies a noun, depending on the context.
Is cocky a negative or positive word?
"Cocky" is generally considered a negative word due to its implication of excessive self-confidence.
Is cocky a countable noun?
"Cocky" is not a noun; it's an adjective and therefore not countable.
Is the cocky term a metaphor?
"Cocky" can be used metaphorically to describe someone with the overly confident traits associated with a rooster's demeanor.
Is the word cocky Gerund?
No, "cocky" is not a gerund. Gerunds are verbs ending in "-ing" that function as nouns.
What is the plural form of cocky?
As an adjective, "cocky" does not change form for plural nouns.
What is the opposite of cocky?
The opposite of "cocky" could be "humble" or "modest."
Is cocky a vowel or consonant?
The word "cocky" starts with a consonant sound.
Is cocky a collective noun?
No, "cocky" is not a noun and therefore cannot be a collective noun.
Which article is used with cocky?
The articles "a" or "the" can be used with "cocky" depending on whether it's being used in a specific or nonspecific context, e.g., "a cocky attitude" or "the cocky player."
Which vowel is used before cocky?
The article "a" is used before "cocky" because it starts with a consonant sound.
Which preposition is used with cocky?
Prepositions like "about" or "in" can be used with "cocky," depending on the context, e.g., "cocky about his achievements."
Which conjunction is used with cocky?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "cocky" in compound sentences.
Is cocky a noun or adjective?
"Cocky" is an adjective.
Is the word cocky imperative?
No, "cocky" is an adjective and cannot be imperative. Imperatives are used for verbs.
Is the word “cocky” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Cocky" is an adjective and cannot serve as a direct or indirect object.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
