Meanings
plural cocksurenesses
- uncountableusuallyThe state or condition of being cocksure; overconfidence.
“What is the test of truth, young man? Will you kindly explain what has so long puzzled wiser heads than yours?” “Certainly,” Ernest answered. His cocksureness irritated them.
1908 February 19, Jack London, The Iron Heel, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., →OCLC1 more example
He was not a favourite debater in the public-house, being too quick and overbearing. He irritated the older men by his assertive manner, and his cocksureness. They listened in silence, and were not sorry when he finished.
1913, D[avid] H[erbert] Lawrence, Sons and Lovers, London: Duckworth & Co. […], →OCLC
Synonyms & antonyms
nountotal certainty or greater certainty than circumstances warrant
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
Translations
Bulgarian арога́нтност
- арога́нтност (arogántnost)the state or condition of being cocksure
Irish diongbháilteacht
- diongbháilteachtthe state or condition of being cocksure
Cite this entry
cocksureness. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cocksureness
“cocksureness.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cocksureness. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “cocksureness,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/cocksureness.
Source: cocksureness on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.