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confident

adjective
conĀ·​fiĀ·​dent | \ ĖˆkƤn-fə-dənt How to pronounce confident (audio) , -ĖŒdent\

Definition of confident

1 : full of conviction : certain confident of success confident that conditions will improve
2 : having or showing assurance and self-reliance a confident young businessman a confident manner
3 obsolete : trustful, confiding
Other Words from confident Synonyms & Antonyms Is it confident or confidant? (Or is it confidante?) More Example Sentences Learn More about confident

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Other Words from confident

confidently adverb

Is it confident or confidant? (Or is it confidante?)

If you find yourself unsure whether you should choose confident or confidant donā€™t feel bad; confidant comes to English from the French word confident, and when the word first entered our language it was often spelled that way, rather than as confidant. The difference is quite simple: confidant is a noun (meaning "a person in whom you confide things"), and confident is an adjective (defined as ā€œhaving confidenceā€). You may well be confident in your confidant, but you would not be confidant in your confident. Although this distinction has not always been observed by writers, confidante is generally used for a female confidant. The word confidant is more frequently used to describe a man, but it may be applied to either gender.

Examples of confident in a Sentence

I am confident about my ability to do the job. The players seem more relaxed and confident this season. He has become more confident in his Spanish-speaking skills. They have a confident air about them. We are confident that conditions will improve soon.
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Recent Examples on the Web

 Demi Lovato isnā€™t sorry at all about her confident Instagram post. — Christina Oehler, Health.com, "Demi Lovatoā€™s Instagram Cellulite Photo Is Inspiring Fans to Post Their Own," 9 Sep. 2019 No wonder the Talibanā€™s leaders, at the helm of a profitable insurgency and confident of victory sooner or later, are not minded to compromise. — The Economist, "Trumped by the Taliban," 5 Sep. 2019 A week later, the confident Gators lost in the Swamp to Kentucky, ending a nation-leading 31-game win streak in the series and leading Mullen to call his team soft. — Edgar Thompson, orlandosentinel.com, "No. 11 Gators look to make most of visit from out-manned Tennessee-Martin," 4 Sep. 2019 Charlie, who is there for this conversation, doesnā€™t look too confident about his friendship with Monty now. — Kaitlin Reilly, refinery29.com, "R29 Binge Club: 13 Reasons Why Season 3 Recap," 24 Aug. 2019 The red lines reflect the UNā€™s predicted trajectories; the UN is 95 percent confident that population will fall between the two dotted red lines. — Kelsey Piper, Vox, "Weā€™ve worried about overpopulation for centuries. And weā€™ve always been wrong.," 20 Aug. 2019 The confident retailers have, thus, set ambitious targets. — Sangeeta Tanwar, Quartz India, "Amidst an economic slump, IKEA and Miniso have missed their India targets," 18 Aug. 2019 Team leaders are confident Orlando City is heading in the right direction under coach James Oā€™Connor and will earn its first playoff bid later this year. — Julia Poe, Pro Soccer USA, "Orlando City took challenging path to MLS all-star spotlight," 28 July 2019 However, when they are all packed in close together, the forecaster can be more confident in where the storm is going. — Kendall Trammell And Judson Jones, CNN, "When it's hurricane season, people check the spaghetti models. Here's what they are and how to read them," 29 Aug. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'confident.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of confident

circa 1567, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for confident

borrowed from Latin confÄ«dent-, confÄ«dens "trusting in oneself, assured, presumptuous," from present participle of confÄ«dere "to put trust in, have confidence in, be sure" ā€” more at confide

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More Definitions for confident

confident

adjective
How to pronounce confident (audio)

English Language Learners Definition of confident

: having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something : having confidence
: showing that you have confidence
: certain that something will happen or that something is true

See the full definition for confident in the English Language Learners Dictionary

confident

adjective
conĀ·​fiĀ·​dent | \ ĖˆkƤn-fə-dənt How to pronounce confident (audio) \

Kids Definition of confident

: having or showing sureness and optimism

Other Words from confident

confidently adverb

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More from Merriam-Webster on confident

Rhyming Dictionary: Words that rhyme with confident

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for confident

Spanish Central: Translation of confident

Nglish: Translation of confident for Spanish Speakers

Britannica English: Translation of confident for Arabic Speakers

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