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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.

    Synonyms: dependence, reliance, faith

    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. presumption; impudence:

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

  6. 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. in confidence
    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 Words From

  • hy·per·con·fi·dence noun
  • non·con·fi·dence noun
  • su·per·con·fi·dence 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

In addition to the idiom beginning with confidence , also see in confidence ; take into one's 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

The Chargers are stacking wins and gaining confidence, having scored a season-high 27 in consecutive weeks.

Elizabeth Atherton, an opera singer, said she had “no confidence” that the Welsh or UK governments were taking the matter seriously enough and said morale within the sector was "at an all-time low".

From BBC

The company says the "beta" Haul shopping experience will see all products sold backed by its product guarantees to provide confidence about their safety.

From BBC

She said adaptable sex toys and aids can help give people confidence and would like to see them on more mainstream sex sites and outlets.

From BBC

He also alleged at the time that the officer had no probable cause to justify the search and expressed confidence that the case would “go nowhere.”

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More About Confidence

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.

Where does confidence come from?

The first records of the term confidence come from the 1300s. It ultimately comes from the Latin confīdentia.

In politics, a vote of confidence is sometimes taken to gauge whether voters still trust the politician. If the result is a vote of no confidence, the politician may be removed from their position.

Another common use is in confidence trick, a scam in which someone gains the confidence of a person or organization only to trick them out of money, goods, or something else later. This is often shortened to con trick.

Did you know … ?

What are some other forms related to confidence?

  • hyperconfidence (noun)
  • nonconfidence (noun)
  • superconfidence (noun)

What are some synonyms for confidence?

What are some words that share a root or word element with confidence

What are some words that often get used in discussing confidence?

How is confidence used in real life?

Confidence is something most people desire but not all people have.

 

Try using confidence!

Is confidence used correctly in the following sentence?

I was so sure I would lose the election that I was full of confidence.

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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