excessive confidence

USAGE SUMMARY

"excessive confidence" is correct and usable in written English. You can use it to describe a situation where someone has more confidence than is warranted or reasonable. Example: His excessive confidence led him to underestimate the challenges ahead. Alternative expressions include "overconfidence" and "undue confidence."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Encyclopedias

Formal & Business

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

27 human-written examples

Indeed, excessive confidence may be part of the problem.

The New York Times

But excessive confidence is only too human, too.

The New Yorker

His excessive confidence alienates Sophie, who declares that she will not have him.

Encyclopedia Britannica

Clinton's biggest mistakes, like setting up her private e-mail server, spring from excessive fear and caution, rather than excessive confidence.

The New Yorker

Well, it's not quite what people said about sports cars: for example, I think the people who buy sports cars have excessive confidence in their driving skills.

The New Yorker

In spite of an occasional disclaimer, he fears the excessive confidence and zealotry of democracy and the desire to spread its values.

The New York Times - Books

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

32 human-written examples

I thought he would get into trouble via excessive self-confidence.

The New York Times

"These forces had not faced a real battle before, because they conducted most patrols in safe areas, and that led to excessive self-confidence," he said.

The New York Times

Another workplace danger is excessive self-confidence, which can help people rise to positions of power but can also render them less effective leaders.

The New York Times

The action centres on the romantic, fascinating, comic and ultimately tragic schoolmistress Jean Brodie who will, in the most archetypal sense, suffer for the sin of hubris, her excessive self-confidence.

The Guardian - Books

Business and the military are two fertile breeders of excessive self-confidence, but the only essential qualification for a white-horse candidate is a total lack of experience in running for or holding elective office.

The New York Times - Books

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

In economic or financial contexts, this phrase is particularly effective for describing market bubbles or speculative behavior.

Common error

Avoid using "excessive confidence" when you actually mean "excessive arrogance". While arrogance refers to a personality trait of superiority, "excessive confidence" specifically refers to a misjudgment of one's own abilities or the certainty of an outcome. Ensure the context reflects a cognitive error rather than just a rude personality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "excessive confidence" functions as a noun phrase where the adjective "excessive" modifies the noun "confidence". In linguistic data from Ludwig, it is frequently used as the subject or object of a sentence to denote a psychological state that leads to error. It serves to qualify the nature of a person's belief system as being disproportionate to reality.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

55%

Science

25%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

5%

Wiki

3%

Social Media

2%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In conclusion, "excessive confidence" is a well-established and correct phrase used to describe a level of certainty that is unwarranted or dangerous. Ludwig AI shows that it is a favorite in analytical writing, particularly when discussing financial risks, psychological biases or historical failures. While it is synonymous with "overconfidence", the use of the word "excessive" adds a descriptive layer of 'too much', making it highly effective for cautionary narratives. It is most frequently found in high-quality sources like The New York Times and The Economist, confirming its status as a sophisticated choice for professional and academic English.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

overconfidence

A single-word equivalent that is more concise and frequently used in academic psychological contexts.

undue confidence

A slightly more formal variant often found in legal or technical risk assessments.

unwarranted confidence

Emphasizes that the confidence lacks a factual basis or justification.

exaggerated confidence

Focuses on the degree to which the confidence has been inflated beyond reality.

inordinate confidence

Suggests a level of confidence that is unusual or disproportionate.

hubris

A more literary or dramatic term implying excessive pride that often leads to a downfall.

overweening confidence

An archaic or literary adjective meaning showing too much confidence or pride.

extreme self-confidence

Focuses on the intensity of the internal belief system rather than its lack of external justification.

blind confidence

Implies that the confidence is maintained despite obvious warning signs or evidence to the contrary.

surplus of confidence

Uses a quantitative metaphor to describe having more confidence than necessary.

FAQs

How do I use "excessive confidence" in a sentence?

You can use it to describe a risk, such as: "The project failed due to "excessive confidence" in the initial data."

What is the difference between "excessive confidence" and "overconfidence"?

While they are largely interchangeable, "overconfidence" is a more common technical term in psychology, whereas "excessive confidence" is often used in general journalism to emphasize the magnitude of the error.

Can "excessive confidence" be positive?

Generally, no. The adjective "excessive" carries a negative connotation, implying that the amount has surpassed a healthy or reasonable limit. If you mean a high but positive level, use "great confidence" or "unwavering confidence" instead.

What is a more formal way to say "excessive confidence"?

In very formal or academic writing, you might use "undue confidence" or the Greek-derived term "hubris" if referring to prideful overconfidence.