overconfidence

noun

over·​con·​fi·​dence ˌō-vər-ˈkän-fə-dən(t)s 

-ˌden(t)s

: an excess of confidence (as in one's abilities or judgment) : confidence that is not justified

warned against overconfidence when investing

People tend to overestimate their skills behind the wheel and underestimate the skills of the boobs and psychopaths driving around them, a phenomenon that psychologists call "optimism bias" and the rest of us simply call delusional overconfidence.

—David H. Freedman

Examples of overconfidence in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

My advice for this is to be humble without losing confidence, and self-assured without crossing into overconfidence. —Mackenzie Schmidt, People.com, 10 Mar. 2025

In fact, a total lack of self-doubt can be outright dangerous, leading to overconfidence, poor decision-making, and blind spots that can undermine success and create a whole lot of suffering for others. —Margie Warrell, Forbes, 8 Mar. 2025

History is full of examples—Blockbuster and Kodak in business and various military campaigns where overconfidence led to failure. —Julian Hayes Ii, Forbes, 23 Feb. 2025

Cuarón underlines Catherine’s comical overconfidence by cutting from her self-satisfied voicemail to Stephen’s furious, frozen stare. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 18 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1622, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for overconfidence

• confidence