WordGarden.iooverconfident
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ˌəʊvəkˈɒnfɪdənt/
US
- /ˌoʊvərˈkɑnfɪdənt/
Meanings
Adjective
too sure of one's own abilities, judgment, or success
too certain that a belief, estimate, prediction, or plan is correct
Beyond the definition
Imagine a squirrel trying to leap across a huge gap between trees. It feels sure it can make the jump, does not really think about the distance, and then falls. Being overconfident means feeling more sure of yourself than you should. It is not just confidence; it is too much confidence, often causing mistakes because you did not judge the risk well. A skilled driver may trust their ability, but an overconfident driver might speed recklessly, thinking they can handle anything. People often use this word for someone whose strong self-belief makes them careless.
To be overconfident is to have too much belief in your own ability, judgment, or chances of success. It goes beyond healthy confidence and describes a state where a person does not see risks, limits, or possible problems clearly. Confidence can come from real skill and experience, but overconfidence often means that someone's certainty is stronger than the facts support.
Think of Icarus in Greek mythology: he flew too close to the sun because he trusted his wax wings too much. Or think of a student who does not study for an exam because they believe they will do well anyway. In both cases, the problem is not simple confidence, but a level of certainty that ignores danger or weakness.
The word often suggests that this attitude may lead to trouble, such as a bad decision, a mistake, or an embarrassing surprise. You might hear, "His overconfidence led to a costly mistake," or "The team's overconfidence blinded them to the opponent's strengths." Even if the person succeeds in the end, the word still carries the idea that they were more sure than was wise.
This idea is not only about skill. It can also describe predictions, plans, or opinions. Someone may be overconfident about the result of a sports game, a business deal, or their chance of winning an argument. In general, confidence helps you prepare, but overconfidence can stop you from preparing enough.
Examples
- 1
School test
She was overconfident before the test and did not study enough.
- 2
Sports team
After two easy wins, the team became overconfident.
- 3
Job interview
He sounded overconfident in the interview, so the manager asked for more details.
- 4
New drivers
Many new drivers are overconfident about driving in bad weather.
- Patternoverconfident about + situation
too sure it will be easy or go well
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Project planning
The company was overconfident in its ability to finish the project on time.
- Patternoverconfident in your ability to do something
too sure you can do it well enough
- 6
Investment risk
Investors grew overconfident and ignored the warning signs.
See also
Similar
Shades of meaning
- complacent
- hubristic
- presumptuous
Contrast
- underconfident
- cautious
Used with (collocations)
- overconfident about
- overconfident in one's abilities
- overconfident prediction
Word family
Explore
- confidence
- risk assessment
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- overconfidentadjective