Confident vs. confidant

Key takeaways:

  • Confident is an adjective that describes a person’s self-assurance or certainty.

  • Confidant is a noun referring to someone who is trusted with private information.

  • These words have different meanings but are often confused due to their similar spelling.

  • Using the wrong word can change the intended meaning of a sentence.

  • Understanding the context helps in choosing the correct word.

Part of the series Grammar Debugged—English for Devs

The words confident and confidant are often mistakenly used interchangeably. While they sound similar, they have entirely different meanings. Confidence refers to self-assurance, while a confidant is a trusted person to whom one confides personal matters. Knowing the difference is crucial to ensure clear and precise communication.

Difference between confident and confidant
Difference between confident and confidant

What is confident?

Confident is an adjectiveA word that describes or modifies a noun, providing details about its quality, quantity, or state (e.g., "He bought a red car."). that describes a person’s strong belief in their abilities or certainty about something. It conveys a sense of assurance, boldness, and lack of doubt.

Use confident when describing someone who is sure of themselves or something.

Examples of confident

  • Lisa walked in confident, ready to ace her big presentation.

  • Before the finals, Williams looked confident and unstoppable.

  • Sarah was always confident in her answers, never second-guessing herself.

  • With years of experience, Alex felt confident leading the team.

  • Tony Stark was as confident as he was brilliant.

What is confidant?

Confidant is a nounA word that represents a person, place, thing, or idea. that refers to a person who is trusted with secrets or private matters. A confidante (with an "e") is a gender-specific term used for a female confidant, though confidant is now widely used for both genders.

Use confidant when referring to someone you trust with personal thoughts or feelings.

Examples of confidant

  • In the office, Jake trusts his mentor as a confidant for career advice.

  • She confided in her best friend, her true confidant.

  • A great leader has a trusted confidant behind the scenes.

Common mistakes when using confident and confidant

  • Confusing an adjective with a noun

    • Incorrect: She is my confident and always listens to my problems.

    • Correct: She is my confidant and always listens to my problems.

  • Misspelling confidant as confidante unnecessarily

    • Incorrect: He is my confidante. (Unless specifically referring to a female, confidante is unnecessary.)

  • Using confidant when describing a personality trait

    • Incorrect: He spoke in a confidant manner.

    • Correct: He spoke in a confident manner.

Confidant vs. Confident

Key differences

Confident

Confidant

Meaning

Self-assured, certain

A trusted person for private matters

Part of speech

Adjective

Noun

Usage

She felt confident before her speech.

He is my confidant, I trust him with my secrets.

Synonym

Positive, certain, sure, self-reliant

Adviser, companion

Test your knowledge

Fill in the blanks with either confidant or confident to test your understanding!

Match The Answer
Select an option from the left-hand side

Mark was lucky to have a __________ who supported him through tough times.

confident

To succeed in an interview, you need to appear __________ and well-prepared.

confidant

Sarah is my __________, and I always share my personal struggles with her.

A true __________ will never reveal your secrets to anyone else.

Public speakers must be __________ in their delivery to engage their audience.

Conclusion

Understanding the difference between confident and confidant ensures clear and precise communication. While confident reflects self-assurance, a confidant is someone you trust with secrets. Choosing the right word enhances both clarity and impact in writing and conversation.

Check out our course on “Grokking the Technical Writing Process,” which will provide insights into technical writing, audience analysis, creating coherent paragraphs, iterative improvement, and mastering parts of speech and punctuation for impactful and well-structured communication.

Frequently asked questions

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What is a confidant person?

Someone you trust and share personal secrets with.

Is a confidant male or female?

The term confidant is gender-neutral.

What do you call a confident person?

Self-assured, assertive, or poised.

Is shy the opposite of confident?

Yes, shyness often contrasts with confidence.

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