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📕 rednote ID(小红书号)：3881567312

Confidence: Definition, Usage & Key Examples (2 meaning)

Meaning 1：self-assurance (confidence)

confidence 🔊

/ˈkɒnfɪdəns/

The feeling that you can do things well or deal with situations successfully.

Confidence illustrated by a person standing tall with good posture, smiling at their reflection in a mirror.

self-assurance 🔊

➕

/ˌself əˈʃʊərəns/

A positive belief in one's own abilities and judgment.

📁 Category：Physical & Mental Health 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Root Explanation

From Latin 'con-' (completely) + 'fidere' (to trust). Literally 'complete trust'.

💡 Mnemonic

CONvince your FRIEND with CONFIDENCE. The 'fid' in the middle sounds like 'fidelity' (faithfulness).

📖 Example

She walked onto the stage with great confidence, ready to give her speech. 🔊 She walked onto the stage with great self-assurance, ready to give her speech.

🔗 Collocations

with confidence – in a self-assured manner

gain confidence – to develop self-assurance

shake someone's confidence – to undermine someone's self-belief

🔄 Synonyms

assurance (n.) – A feeling of certainty about one's own abilities.

poise (n.) – Graceful and composed self-assurance.

self-reliance (n.) – Reliance on one's own powers and resources.

🚫 Antonyms

insecurity (n.) – A lack of confidence or assurance; self-doubt.

self-doubt (n.) – Lack of confidence in one's own abilities.

diffidence (n.) – Modesty or shyness resulting from a lack of self-confidence.

🌱 Derivatives

confident (adj.) – Feeling or showing certainty about something.

confidently (adv.) – In a self-assured way.

confidential (adj.) – Intended to be kept secret, implying trust.

📖 Cultural Story

Originates from Latin 'confidentia', meaning trust, assurance. In modern culture, it's a key term in business and politics, e.g., 'vote of confidence' or 'consumer confidence index', measuring public trust in institutions or the economy.

Meaning 2：trust (confidence)

confidence 🔊

/ˈkɒnfɪdəns/

A feeling of trust in someone's ability or in something's reliability.

trust 🔊

➕

/trʌst/

The feeling of certainty that someone or something is reliable.

📁 Category：Social Roles 🔖 Level：Intermediate

📘 Details & Usage

📖 Example

I have complete confidence in my team's ability to finish the project on time. 🔊 I have complete trust in my team's ability to finish the project on time.

🔗 Collocations

have confidence in – to trust or believe in someone or something

breach of confidence – a violation of trust, especially regarding private information

vote of confidence – a formal expression of trust and approval

🔄 Synonyms

trust (n.) – Firm belief in the reliability, truth, or ability of someone or something.

faith (n.) – Complete trust or confidence in someone or something.

reliance (n.) – Dependence on or trust in someone or something.

🚫 Antonyms

distrust (n.) – The feeling that someone or something cannot be relied upon.

suspicion (n.) – A feeling or thought that something is possible, likely, or true, often implying doubt.

mistrust (n.) – Lack of trust; suspicion.