Confidant vs. Confident: What's the Difference?

The words confidant and confident are homophones—they sound the same but have different meanings and uses. A confidant refers to a person who is trusted with secrets or private matters. Conversely, confident describes the feeling of self-assurance arising from an appreciation of one's abilities or qualities.

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Confidant vs. Confident

How do you use the word confidant in a sentence?

Use the word confidant when you want to refer to someone who is entrusted with personal information and expected to keep it private. It typically indicates a relationship based on trust and discretion, often used to relate to the closest circle of friends or advisors.
Examples of confidant in a sentence
  • She considered her sister to be her closest confidant.
  • During difficult times, he turned to his mentor as a trusted confidant.
  • The CEO often relied on her assistant as a confidant for sensitive company matters.

How do you use the word confident in a sentence?

The word confident is used to describe either a sureness about handling something, such as a task or social situation, or a certainty of opinion. Expressing confidence can relate to one's own abilities or the belief in someone else's capabilities.
Examples of confident in a sentence
  • He was confident that the team would win the championship.
  • After months of practice, she felt confident in her piano playing abilities.
  • The lawyer's confident attitude reassured her client before the trial.

Confidant and confident definition, parts of speech, and pronunciation

Confidant definition:
A confidant is a noun that refers to a person with whom one shares a secret or private matter, trusting them not to repeat it to others.

Confidant parts of speech:
  • Noun: His brother became his confidant after years of building trust.

Confidant pronunciation:
The word confidant is pronounced as /ˈkɒnfɪdænt/.

Confident definition:
Confident is an adjective meaning having a feeling or belief that one can rely on someone or something; firm trust.

Confident parts of speech:
  • Adjective: She was confident about her decision to move abroad.

Confident pronunciation:
The word confident is pronounced as /ˈkɒnfɪdənt/.

Confidant vs. Confident in a nutshell

While confidant and confident sound alike, their meanings are distinct. A confidant is someone you trust with your secrets, serving a noun in the English language. In contrast, confident describes an attitude of self-assurance or belief in someone or something, functioning as an adjective. Remember to use confidant when speaking about trust and discreet relationships and confident when describing certainty and self-reliance.

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