Cocky and Deferential
Opposite meaning words
Cocky
Cocky adjective - Displaying or marked by rude boldness.
Usage example: a cocky young actor who thought that he was God's gift to the theater
Deferential is an antonym for cocky.
Deferential
Deferential adjective - Marked by or showing proper regard for another's higher status.
Cocky is an antonym for deferential.
Cite this Source
Deferential and Cocky. (2016). Retrieved 2026, July 21, from https://thesaurus.plus/related/cocky/deferential
Cocky & Deferential. N.p., 2016. Web. 21 Jul. 2026. <https://thesaurus.plus/related/cocky/deferential>.
Deferential or Cocky. 2016. Accessed July 21, 2026. https://thesaurus.plus/related/cocky/deferential.
Google Ngram Viewer shows how "cocky" and "deferential" have occurred on timeline