Confident vs. Arrogant — What's the Difference?
By Tayyaba Rehman & Fiza Rafique — Published on September 16, 2023
Confident people have a strong belief in their abilities but remain open to feedback; Arrogant people overestimate their importance and are often dismissive of others.
Difference Between Confident and Arrogant
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Confident individuals possess a strong sense of self-assurance that stems from a realistic assessment of their abilities. Arrogant people, however, overestimate their own skills and often disregard the opinions and feelings of others.
Being Confident means you have faith in your own capabilities but are still willing to listen, learn, and grow. Arrogance is characterized by a lack of willingness to accept constructive criticism, often assuming that one already knows best.
A Confident person doesn't feel the need to belittle others to assert their worth; they let their actions speak for themselves. In contrast, an Arrogant individual often puts others down, intentionally or unintentionally, as a means of elevating themselves.
In social interactions, Confident people are generally likable and inspire trust, as they show respect for others. Arrogant individuals, on the other hand, can come across as self-centered and dismissive, which often turns people away.
Comparison Chart
Self-Assessment
Realistic assessment of skills
Overestimates skills
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Openness
Open to feedback
Dismissive of feedback
Treatment of Others
Respectful
Often dismissive or condescending
Social Perception
Generally likable
Often disliked
Response to Criticism
Open to constructive criticism
Resistant to any form of criticism
Compare with Definitions
Confident
Optimistic
He was confident that the team would win.
Arrogant
Self-important
His arrogant demeanor turned people off.
Confident
Self-assured
She was confident in her ability to finish the marathon.
Arrogant
Dismissive
His arrogant behavior made him dismiss others' opinions.
Confident
Secure
She felt confident about her decision to change jobs.
Arrogant
Conceited
She was arrogant about her beauty.
Confident
Self-reliant
He was confident in his skills as a solo traveler.
Arrogant
Haughty
His arrogant remarks about the service were uncalled for.
Confident
Courageous
She spoke confidently in front of the large audience.
Arrogant
Overconfident
She was so arrogant that she didn't study for the test.
Confident
Feeling or showing certainty, as of success
Was confident that the venture would be profitable.
Arrogant
Having or displaying excessive pride in oneself or an excessive sense of self-importance.
Confident
Feeling or showing confidence in oneself; self-assured
A confident driver.
Arrogant
Marked by or arising from a feeling or assumption of one's superiority over others
An arrogant contempt for the weak.
Confident
(Obsolete) Confiding; trustful.
Arrogant
Having excessive pride in oneself, often with contempt or disrespect for others.
Confident
Very sure of something; positive.
I'm pretty confident that she's not lying, she's acting normally.
He was confident of success.
Arrogant
Making, or having the disposition to make, exorbitant claims of rank or estimation; giving one's self an undue degree of importance; assuming; haughty; - applied to persons.
Arrogant Winchester, that haughty prelate.
Confident
Self-assured, self-reliant, sure of oneself.
Arrogant
Containing arrogance; marked with arrogance; proceeding from undue claims or self-importance; - applied to things; as, arrogant pretensions or behavior.
Confident
Forward, impudent.
Arrogant
Having or showing feelings of unwarranted importance out of overbearing pride;
An arrogant official
Arrogant claims
Chesty as a peacock
Confident
Obsolete form of confidant
Confident
See Confidant.
Confident
Having or marked by confidence or assurance;
A confident speaker
A confident reply
His manner is more confident these days
Confident of fulfillment
Confident
Persuaded of; very sure;
Were convinced that it would be to their advantage to join
I am positive he is lying
Was confident he would win
Confident
Not liable to error in judgment or action;
Most surefooted of the statesmen who dealt with the depression
Demonstrates a surefooted storytelling talent
Common Curiosities
Is being Confident a positive trait?
Yes, confidence is generally considered a positive trait as it empowers you to take action.
What does Confident mean?
Confident means having a strong belief in one's own abilities.
What does Arrogant mean?
Arrogant means having an exaggerated sense of one's own importance and abilities.
Is being Arrogant a positive trait?
No, arrogance is generally viewed negatively as it involves dismissing or belittling others.
Is it bad to be Arrogant?
Yes, arrogance is often viewed as a negative trait.
Can a Confident person be humble?
Yes, confident people can be humble as they have a realistic view of their abilities.
Can an Arrogant person be humble?
It's contradictory; arrogance generally involves a lack of humility.
Do Arrogant people respect others?
No, arrogant people often dismiss or belittle others.
Is it bad to be Confident?
No, being confident is usually beneficial unless it crosses into arrogance.
How can I tell if I'm Confident or Arrogant?
Self-awareness and feedback from others can help determine if you're confident or arrogant.
Can you be both Confident and Arrogant?
While one can display traits of both, they are generally mutually exclusive in nature.
How do Confident people handle criticism?
Confident people are generally open to constructive criticism.
Can Arrogance be turned into Confidence?
With self-awareness and effort, it's possible to transition from arrogance to confidence.
Do Confident people respect others?
Yes, confident people generally respect others and value different opinions.
How do Arrogant people handle criticism?
Arrogant people are often dismissive or defensive when criticized.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
