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View synonyms for confidence

confidence

[kon-fi-duhns]

noun

  1. full trust; belief in the powers, trustworthiness, or reliability of a person or thing.

    We have every confidence in their ability to succeed.

    Antonyms: mistrust
  2. belief in oneself and one's powers or abilities; self-confidence; self-reliance; assurance.

    His lack of confidence defeated him.

  3. certitude; assurance.

    He described the situation with such confidence that the audience believed him completely.

  4. a secret that is confided or imparted trustfully.

    The friends exchanged many confidences over the years.

  5. vote of confidence.

  6. presumption; impudence.

    Her disdainful look crushed the confidence of the brash young man.

  7. Archaic.,  something that gives confidence; ground of trust.



confidence

/ ˈkɒnfɪdəns /

noun

  1. a feeling of trust in a person or thing

    I have confidence in his abilities

  2. belief in one's own abilities; self-assurance

  3. trust or a trustful relationship

    take me into your confidence

  4. something confided or entrusted; secret

  5. as a secret

“Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged” 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
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Other Word Forms

  • hyperconfidence noun
  • nonconfidence noun
  • superconfidence noun
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Word History and Origins

Origin of confidence1

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin confīdentia; confide, -ence
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Idioms and Phrases

Idioms
  1. in confidence, as a secret or private matter, not to be divulged or communicated to others; with belief in a person's sense of discretion.

    I told him in confidence.

More idioms and phrases containing confidence

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Synonym Study

See trust. Confidence, assurance both imply a faith in oneself. Confidence may imply trust in oneself or arrogant self-conceit. Assurance implies even more sureness of oneself; this may be shown as undisturbed calm or as offensive boastfulness.
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Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Even so, I could not gain any purchase on this novel, which has unearned confidence in the poignancy of what seems like a very tedious relationship.

The new headquarters would be a welcome sign of confidence in the city’s bright future.

“I think there’s an increased confidence in coaches giving players the opportunity to go out there…” said Dicker, whose longest made kick is 59 yards.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

"Aaron is very caring and supportive, and he has been there to help me gain confidence throughout the last few years."

Read more on BBC

Investors appear more willing to bet on gold stocks as nominal and real rates move lower, which bolsters confidence in how long gold’s bull run can last.

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Related Words

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When To Use

What does confidence mean?

Confidence is full trust or belief in the reliability of someone or something, The fans had confidence that their team would win.Confidence is also a belief in one’s self, also called self-confidence. If you have confidence in yourself that you can earn a spot on the basketball team, you believe you can get on the team.Confidence is also a certitude about something, as in When you walk with confidence, people pay attention to you.A confidence is also a secret that you share with someone. To take someone into your confidence is to share a secret with them, trusting that they won’t share it with anyone else.Example: He showed confidence during the interview so I think he is the better candidate for the position.

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.

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confideconfidence game