confident

/ˈkɑːnfɪdənt/

Say it: KON-fih-dunt

1. adjective Feeling or showing a strong belief in one's own abilities, qualities, or judgment.
She gave a confident presentation to the board of directors.
2. adjective Feeling or showing certainty about something; having no doubt.
I'm confident that we will meet the deadline.
3. adjective Being too sure of oneself; bold or presumptuous in a way that can be seen as negative.
He was a little too confident for a rookie, making promises he couldn't keep.

📖 Seen in the wild

She felt confident that her presentation would be well received.
collected by @vocablast

✏️ confident in a sentence

The CEO remained confident in the company's long-term strategy despite the market downturn.
Are you confident enough in your answer to bet on it?
He walked with the confident stride of a man who knows exactly where he is going.
After weeks of practice, the team felt confident of victory.
It's easy to be confident when everything is going your way.
Her voice was calm and confident, reassuring the nervous passengers.
I'm not confident about our chances of getting tickets at this point.

🔁 Synonyms & antonyms

sure self-assured assured poised certain positive secure bold

sure · implies certainty based on evidence or a lack of doubt.

self-assured · specifically highlights trust in one's own judgment and abilities.

assured · suggests a calm, self-possessed confidence that is visible to others.

poised · emphasizes composure and grace, especially under pressure.

Opposites: insecure, diffident, hesitant, uncertain, timid

🌱 Where it comes from

The word 'confident' comes to us from the Latin verb 'confidere', which means 'to have full trust or reliance'. It's a combination of 'con-', meaning 'with' or 'thoroughly', and 'fidere', 'to trust'. Originally about trusting something or someone else, its meaning evolved to focus more on trusting in oneself.

🧩 How it's used

Common patterns:

feel confidentquietly confidentconfident smileconfident mannerremain confidentconfident in your ability

Confident is a positive trait, but it's important to distinguish it from 'arrogant' or 'overconfident', which imply excessive and unjustified self-belief. The choice of preposition matters: use 'confident in' for abilities or people ('confident in her skills'), 'confident of' for outcomes ('confident of success'), and 'confident about' for general situations ('confident about the future'). You can also use 'confident that' followed by a clause.

Word family: confidence, confidently, confide

💬 Quick answers

What does it mean to be confident?

To be confident means to have a strong sense of self-belief in your own abilities or to feel certain about a particular outcome.

What is the difference between 'confident' and 'arrogant'?

'Confident' describes a healthy self-assurance that is generally seen as positive. 'Arrogant' implies an excessive, overbearing pride and a sense of superiority, which is negative.

Is it 'confident in', 'confident of', or 'confident about'?

All are correct but used in slightly different contexts. You are 'confident in' a person or an ability, 'confident of' an outcome (like victory), and 'confident about' a situation or the future.

What is the noun for confident?

The noun form is 'confidence', which refers to the feeling or state of being confident.

1 word nerd collected it V

Want "confident" to actually stick?

Save it to your own vault, let AI explain it, practice till it's yours.

Start for free →