Confidence — Meaning, Definition & Synonyms

noun adjective /ˈkän-fə-dən(t)s/ con·fi·dence

Meaning & Definition of Confidence

Confidence (noun)

  1. a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances
  2. faith or belief that one will act in a right, proper, or effective way
  3. the quality or state of being certain, certitude

Confidence (adjective)

  1. of, relating to, or adept at swindling by false promises

Confidence (noun) — Senses, Synonyms & Antonyms

  1. great faith in oneself or one's abilities

    "a lifelong confidence that enabled her to achieve great things despite powerful obstacles"

    similar: aplomb, assurance, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-trust
    related: cockiness, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egoism, egotism, hubris, overconfidence, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-applause, self-assumption, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vanity, calmness, composure, coolness, equanimity, self-poise, self-possession, assumption, bumptiousness, haughtiness, hauteur, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, peremptoriness, presumptuousness, pretentiousness, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness
    opposite: diffidence, insecurity, self-distrust, self-doubt
    near: apprehension, doubt, misgiving

  2. a state of mind in which one is free from doubt

    "the confidence with which the game show contestant answered every question"

    similar: assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, cocksureness, conviction, doubtlessness, face, positiveness, satisfaction, sureness, surety
    related: authoritarianism, dogmatism, decisiveness, determination, firmness, purposefulness, resoluteness, resolution, resolve
    opposite: doubt, incertitude, nonconfidence, uncertainty
    near: hesitancy, hesitation, indecisiveness, irresolution, disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, misgiving, distrust, mistrust, suspicion

  3. firm belief in the integrity, ability, effectiveness, or genuineness of someone or something

    "as players, we have complete confidence in our coach"

    similar: credence, faith, stock, trust
    related: acceptance, assurance, assuredness, certainty, certitude, conviction, positiveness, sureness, surety, credit, dependence, hope, reliance
    opposite: distrust, mistrust
    near: disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, distrustfulness, doubt, dubiety, dubiousness, incertitude, misdoubt, misgiving, mistrustfulness, nonconfidence, skepticism, suspicion, uncertainness, uncertainty, disenchantment, disillusion, disillusionment

  4. information shared only with another or with a select few

    "accused him of betraying an important confidence"

    similar: secret
    related: dope, lowdown
    near: open secret

Related Entry: Confidence man (noun)

Confidence man is a different word from Confidence. The synonyms below are for confidence man, not for confidence.

  1. a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value

    "taken in by a persuasive confidence man using the Internet"

    similar: bilk, bilker, cheat, cheater, chiseler, cozener, defrauder, dodger, fakir, finagler, fraudster (chiefly British), hoaxer, scammer, scamster, shark, sharper, sharpie, skinner, swindler, tricker, trickster
    related: double-crosser, double-dealer, bluffer, charlatan, fake, faker, humbug, impostor, mountebank, phony, pretender, quack, quacksalver, ringer, sham, adventurer, fox, gamesman, knave, prankster, rascal, rogue, fast-talker, slick, slicker, slickster, slyboots, smoothy, wheeler-dealer, plotter, schemer, sneak, sneaker, blackleg, cardsharp

Related Entry: Confidence men (noun)

Confidence men is a different word from Confidence. The synonyms below are for confidence men, not for confidence.

  1. a dishonest person who uses clever means to cheat others out of something of value

    "taken in by a persuasive confidence man using the Internet"

    similar: bilkers, bilks, cheaters, cheats, chiselers, cozeners, defrauders, dodgers, fakirs, finaglers, fraudsters (chiefly British), hoaxers, scammers, scamsters, sharks, sharpers, sharpies, skinners, swindlers, trickers, tricksters
    related: double-crossers, double-dealers, bluffers, charlatans, fakers, fakes, humbugs, impostors, mountebanks, phonies, pretenders, quacks, quacksalvers, ringers, shams, adventurers, foxes, gamesmen, knaves, pranksters, rascals, rogues, fast-talkers, slickers, slicks, slicksters, slyboots, smoothies, wheeler-dealers, plotters, schemers, sneakers, sneaks, blacklegs, cardsharps

Related Entry: Self-confidence (noun)

Self-confidence is a different word from Confidence. The synonyms below are for self-confidence, not for confidence.

  1. great faith in oneself or one's abilities

    "for so young a pianist, he has remarkable composure and self-confidence on stage"

    similar: aplomb, assurance, confidence, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-esteem, self-trust
    related: cockiness, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egoism, egotism, hubris, overconfidence, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-applause, self-assumption, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory, vanity, calmness, composure, coolness, equanimity, self-poise, self-possession, assumption, bumptiousness, haughtiness, hauteur, huffiness, imperiousness, loftiness, lordliness, peremptoriness, presumptuousness, pretentiousness, superciliousness, superiority, toploftiness
    opposite: diffidence, insecurity, self-distrust, self-doubt
    near: apprehension, doubt, misgiving

Synonyms, Thesaurus & Another Word for Confidence

The most common words with a similar meaning to Confidence:

aplomb, assurance, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-trust, assuredness, certainty, certitude, cocksureness, conviction, doubtlessness, face, positiveness, satisfaction, sureness, surety, credence, faith, stock, trust, secret

Antonyms & Opposite Words for Confidence

Words with the opposite meaning of Confidence:

diffidence, insecurity, self-distrust, self-doubt, doubt, incertitude, nonconfidence, uncertainty, distrust, mistrust

Related Words for Confidence

cockiness, complacence, complacency, conceit, conceitedness, ego, egoism, egotism, hubris, overconfidence, pomposity, pompousness, pride, pridefulness, self-admiration, self-applause, self-assumption, self-complacency, self-conceit, self-consequence, self-content, self-contentment, self-glorification, self-importance, self-opinion, self-partiality, self-satisfaction, smugness, vaingloriousness, vainglory

Near Antonyms of Confidence

apprehension, misgiving, hesitancy, hesitation, indecisiveness, irresolution, disbelief, incredulity, unbelief, anxiety, concern, suspicion, distrustfulness, dubiety, dubiousness, misdoubt, mistrustfulness, skepticism, uncertainness, disenchantment, disillusion, disillusionment, open secret

Origin & Etymology of Confidence

Middle English confydence, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French confidence, borrowed from Latin confīdentia, from confīdent-, confīdens "trusting in oneself, confident" + -ia -ia:1

First known use: 14th century

Vocabulary Lists & Topics for Confidence

Words & Phrases Containing Confidence

confidence interval, confidence limits, confidence game, confidence man, confidence trick, confidence trickster, self-confidence, vote of no confidence

Frequently Asked Questions about Confidence

What does "Confidence" mean?

"Confidence" means a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances. As an a noun and an adjective, it is defined as: a feeling or consciousness of one's powers or of reliance on one's circumstances. It has 4 distinct senses.

What is another word for "Confidence"?

Other words for "Confidence" include aplomb, assurance, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-trust and assuredness. The best synonym depends on which meaning of "Confidence" you intend.

What are different ways to say "Confidence"?

There are 90 words and phrases with a similar meaning to "Confidence". Common alternatives include aplomb, assurance, self-assurance, self-assuredness, self-confidence, self-esteem, self-trust, assuredness, certainty and certitude.

What is the opposite of "Confidence"?

Antonyms of "Confidence" include diffidence, insecurity, self-distrust, self-doubt, doubt, incertitude, nonconfidence and uncertainty. Near antonyms include apprehension, misgiving, hesitancy and hesitation.

How do you use "Confidence" in a sentence?

Examples of "Confidence" in a sentence: "a lifelong confidence that enabled her to achieve great things despite powerful obstacles"; "the confidence with which the game show contestant answered every question"; "as players, we have complete confidence in our coach".

Is "Confidence" a noun, verb, or adjective?

"Confidence" can be used as a noun and an adjective, depending on the context.

Is "Confidence" useful for IELTS, TOEFL, and other English exams?

As a B2-level word, "Confidence" is typical of Cambridge B2 First (FCE), IELTS band 5.5–6.5, TOEFL iBT 72–94, PTE Academic 59–75, TOEIC Listening & Reading 785+.

How do you pronounce "Confidence"?

"Confidence" is pronounced /ˈkän-fə-dən(t)s/ and divided into syllables as con·fi·dence.