Confidence Vs. Arrogance: What’s The Difference?

Most people know that being confident and arrogant are two different things. However, arrogance is usually born out of a sense of too much confidence. So, when exactly does confidence tip into arrogance? And is being a bit arrogant altogether a bad thing?

Confidence is defined by Merriam-Webster as “a feeling or consciousness of one’s powers or of reliance on one’s circumstances.” It also has several other meanings, mostly having to do with being honest or competent. Arrogance, on the other hand, is defined as “an attitude of superiority manifested in an overbearing manner or in presumptuous claims or assumptions.”

Arrogance has an entirely negative definition as well as connotation, while confidence is exclusively positive. The main difference is that arrogance has a sense of superiority in the person’s conduct or marked overconfidence. Confidence implies that the person is sure of themself and has earned it.

Key Takeaways:

What Is Confidence?

Confidence is being sure of one’s own abilities. To be confident is to be “full of conviction” or to “hav[e] or [show] assurance and self-reliance.” Confidence is a trait that is earned over time by working on your skills and succeeding in your endeavors. It’s also not showy.

A confident person will say what they can and can’t do because they won’t be worried that they’ll be seen as not good enough.

As a rule, confident people don’t make a point to brag or show up to their coworkers. They’re also willing to listen and learn from those who have other areas of expertise or maybe just have a different point of view. Those who are confident are also competent and willing to use their expertise.

Looking at synonyms can also give you a good idea of what a word means and how it is used. For confidence, the listed synonyms are aplomb, assurance, self-esteem, and self-trust.

However, while the word assurance can have the connotation of a lack of objectivity, confidence does not. As in, assurance can be born of either ignorance or privilege. It’s also important to note that describing someone as confident also implies that they aren’t conceited about it.

Confidence was first used in the 14th century with the meaning it has today. The term came from Middle English’s confydence, which was borrowed from Anglo-French. In the Anglo-French, it was also confidence, but that was taken from Latin’s confīdentia. It was a form of the root confīdent-, meaning “trusting in oneself” or “confident.”

Adding the -ia suffix made the word feminine. The other definition of confidence, the adjective used in confidence man or confidence game, came into the language much later, in 1849.

What Is Arrogance?

Arrogance is being extremely sure of oneself to the point of perceived superiority. To be arrogant is to “exaggerat[e] or [be] disposed to exaggerate one’s own worth or importance often by an overbearing manner” or “showing an offensive attitude of superiority.”

As you can see from the definitions, arrogance can manifest itself in two different ways. One is exaggeration and boasting, which is usually a sign of a lack of underlying confidence or self-worth.

The other is to have an exaggerated sense of self-importance, which can come from success, luck, or privilege. Arrogance, however, usually implies the former, as an arrogant person attempts to seize more importance or consideration than they warrant.

The important aspect of arrogance is that it’s considered offensive and bombastic. Arrogant people have a tendency to be competitive with others and are prone to one-upmanship. They’re also exceedingly unlikely to admit that they may be wrong or made a mistake, as well as being more than willing to take all credit themselves.

Arrogance’s synonyms are no more positive, either. They include hauteur, imperiousness, lordliness, pretension, superciliousness, and superiority. All of these words imply an inflated sense of self-worth, but more than that, they imply that they look down on others as inferior.

Arrogance came into English usage in the 14th century. Like confidence, it came through Middle English via Anglo-French and Latin. In middle English, it was arrogaunce or errogaunce (it took quite some time for spelling to be uniform).

This was borrowed from the Anglo-French arrogance or arrogaunce. That, in turn, was taken from Latin’s arrogantia, the noun derivative of arrogant- which meant insolent or overbearing.

Tips for Appearing Confident Rather than Arrogant

Many people say that there’s a fine line between being confident and arrogant. It’s one of many sayings that are both true and not. But here are some tips to make sure that you appear confident to others rather than arrogant.

Confident people will:

• Help others

• Be willing to listen to advice

• Share credit

• Share their expertise

• Listen to and consider criticism and suggestions

Arrogant people will:

• Take credit for themselves

• Be unnecessarily competitive

• Tear others down

• Fail to listen

• Brush off criticism and suggestions

There are two main things to consider when comparing confidence and arrogance. Confident people aren’t afraid to be mistaken or not know something; they know that this is a part of the learning process. Arrogant people are never wrong, and they’ll almost never admit that they don’t know something.

Secondly, confident people lift others. They use their knowledge, experience, and ability to work as part of a team. Arrogant people will either tear other people down to make themselves look better or will assume that others are incapable of doing anything right anyway.

Therefore if you want to appear confident rather than arrogant, be sure to listen and collaborate. Also, don’t assume that others don’t know things just because they have less education, experience, or a different background than you do. Be inclusive, open-minded, and kind.

Confidence vs. Arrogance FAQ

1. Why would people confuse confidence with arrogance?

   Confidence can be confused for arrogance when confidence seems unfounded. As a rule, arrogance manifests in boastfulness. However, occasionally a person will be described as arrogant when really the more exact term is overconfident.

   If someone is overconfident, they’ll believe that they’re capable of things that they aren’t, but they won’t necessarily brag about it, be competitive about it, or steal credit from others, which are usual behaviors of the arrogant.

2. Is there really a thin line between confidence and arrogance?

   There can be slight differences between confidence and arrogance. A large part of the difference is in how you present yourself.

   If you have confidence, you aren’t generally making a point of your skill or abilities. While that’s a good thing, keeping too much to yourself can be seen by some as supercilious or standoffish, especially if you’re a bit cold or don’t try to hide your intelligence.

   However, when it comes off as arrogance is when your outward show of confidence is boasty, overbearing, or puts others down. For example, rudely correcting someone or making a point to nitpick small mistakes that others make. As a rule, confident people boost others, and arrogant people pull others down.

3. Does arrogance come from a lack of self-confidence?

   Arrogance can come from a lack of self-confidence, but it can also come from an excess of it. Many arrogant people who steal credit believe that they deserve it. They see themselves as genuinely superior to others and believe themselves to be the most important person in the room.

   It can, however, also manifest as a way to cover up a lack of self-confidence or as a way to prove their worth. It can be difficult to tell the difference between the two, but all variations of arrogance are off-putting.

Author

Di Doherty

Di has been a writer for more than half her life. Most of her writing so far has been fiction, and she’s gotten short stories published in online magazines Kzine and Silver Blade, as well as a flash fiction piece in the Bookends review. Di graduated from Mary Baldwin College (now University) with a degree in Psychology and Sociology.