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
David H. FreedmanExamples of overconfidence in a Sentence
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Leaders trained in mental discipline are less likely to fall prey to confirmation bias or overconfidence.
—Gamini Hewawasam, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Trump’s former Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, warns that while the U.S. has achieved notable progress in trade negotiations, overconfidence could lead American negotiators to push too hard for concessions foreign governments cannot make.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 June 2025
What’s Your Financial Blind Spot? For example, maybe your blind spot is overconfidence, a blind spot especially common in men that is pretty well explained in our general unwillingness to ask for directions (when that was a thing).
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Solskjaer felt that overconfidence bordering on arrogance might be PSG’s Achilles’ heel.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
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Gamini Hewawasam, Forbes.com, 1 July 2025
Trump’s former Commerce Secretary, Wilbur Ross, warns that while the U.S. has achieved notable progress in trade negotiations, overconfidence could lead American negotiators to push too hard for concessions foreign governments cannot make.
—Eleanor Pringle, Fortune, 17 June 2025
What’s Your Financial Blind Spot? For example, maybe your blind spot is overconfidence, a blind spot especially common in men that is pretty well explained in our general unwillingness to ask for directions (when that was a thing).
—Tim Maurer, Forbes.com, 11 May 2025
Solskjaer felt that overconfidence bordering on arrogance might be PSG’s Achilles’ heel.
—Andy Mitten, New York Times, 20 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for overconfidence
Cite this Entry
“Overconfidence.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overconfidence. Accessed 25 Jul. 2025.
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