Definitions

hotshot

[hot-shot] / ˈhɒtˌʃɒt /

ADJECTIVE

adept

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accomplished adroit capable deft proficient skilled skillful versed

STRONG

ace clean crack crackerjack expert quick savvy sharp slick smooth there whiz wizard

WEAK

brainy dexterous hot know stuff masterful masterly no dummy no slouch nobody's fool on the ball on the beam practiced sharp as a tack up to speed

Antonyms

STRONGEST

awkward clumsy green incapable incompetent inept inexperienced unable unskilled unskillful

STRONG

coarse ignorant indefinite lazy rough slow stupid unintelligent

ADJECTIVE

big deal

Synonyms

STRONG

big-league big-time significant substantial

ADJECTIVE

brazen

Synonyms

STRONGEST

audacious blatant bold impudent shameless unabashed

STRONG

flip forward

WEAK

barefaced brassy cheeky cocky contumelious defiant flashy gritty gutsy immodest impertinent indecent insolent loud meretricious nervy overbold pert saucy smart-alecky smart-ass spunky tawdry unblushing

Antonyms

STRONGEST

humble meek modest quiet retiring shy timid

WEAK

shamed shamefaced

ADJECTIVE

cocky

Synonyms

STRONGEST

arrogant brash cocksure overconfident presumptuous self-confident

WEAK

bumptious certain conceited confident egotistical hubristic know-it-all lordly nervy overweening positive smart-alecky smarty-pants sure swaggering swollen-headed vain

Antonyms

STRONGEST

cautious humble meek self-doubting unsure

WEAK

modest shy tentative timid uncertain

ADJECTIVE

foremost

Synonyms

WEAK

A number one A-1 arch at the cutting edge at the leading edge champion chief front head headmost heavy heavy stuff heavyweight highest hot stuff hotdog inaugural initial leading most important number one original paramount preeminent premier primary prime primo principal supreme

Antonyms

WEAK

inferior last least lowest secondary unimportant

ADJECTIVE

gifted

Synonyms

STRONGEST

accomplished brilliant capable skilled smart

WEAK

able adroit class act clever expert got it have on the ball have smarts have the goods hot ingenious mad masterly phenomenal shining at

Antonyms

STRONGEST

dull inept stupid unable unintelligent

WEAK

incapable untalented

ADJECTIVE

self-confident

Synonyms

STRONGEST

poised self-assured self-reliant

WEAK

assured fearless hotdog know-it-all sanguine sure of oneself undoubtful

Antonyms

WEAK

humble insecure meek unself-confident unsure

ADJECTIVE

smug

Synonyms

STRONGEST

complacent egotistical pompous self-righteous self-satisfied

WEAK

conceited egoistic holier-than-thou priggish puffed-up self-contented snobbish stuck on oneself stuck-up stuffy superior vainglorious

Antonyms

STRONGEST

humble

WEAK

modest unhappy unself-confident unsure

NOUN

aviator

Synonyms

STRONGEST

flier navigator pilot

STRONG

ace aeronaut barnstormer eagle jockey

WEAK

airperson bird legs

NOUN

big deal

Synonyms

WEAK

VIP big cheese big enchilada big fish big gun big shot big wheel biggie bigwig boss boss man head honcho important person top dog tycoon very important person

NOUN

braggart

Synonyms

STRONG

blatherskite blowhard blusterer boaster brag braggadocio bragger egotist exhibitionist gasbag grandstander know-it-all peacock ranter raver show off swaggerer swashbuckler trumpeter windbag

WEAK

bag of wind big talker big-timer bigmouth gascon strutter swelled head

NOUN

celebrity

Synonyms

STRONGEST

figure hero luminary personage personality someone star superstar

STRONG

VIP ace bigwig cynosure heavyweight immortal lion magnate mahatma name notable somebody worthy

WEAK

big cheese big deal big gun big name big shot big stuff celeb famous person major leaguer the cheese

Antonyms

STRONGEST

commoner

STRONG

nobody nonentity unknown

WEAK

obscurity

NOUN

ham

Synonyms

STRONGEST

hot dog

STRONG

exhibitionist grandstander

WEAK

show-off

NOUN

hot dog

Synonyms

WEAK

boaster braggart crowd-pleaser flaunter grandstander show-off showboat

NOUN

professional

Synonyms

STRONGEST

artist expert pro specialist

STRONG

adept artiste authority brain egghead powerhouse pundit shark star superstar virtuoso whiz wizard

WEAK

old hand old pro old war-horse phenom proficient whiz kid

Antonyms

STRONG

amateur rookie

WEAK

apprentice greenhorn

NOUN

vaunter

Synonyms

STRONG

blowhard blusterer boaster brag braggadocio bragger egotist exhibitionist gasbag grandstander know-it-all peacock ranter raver show-off swaggerer swashbuckler trumpeter windbag

WEAK

bag of wind big talker big-timer bigmouth gascon strutter swelled head

NOUN

virtuoso

Synonyms

STRONGEST

magician musician prodigy

STRONG

ace adept artist artiste authority brain celebrity champ champion crackerjack egghead genius natural performer pro professional pundit sharp star superstar whiz wizard

WEAK

big deal dillettante hot stuff intelligent no slouch old hand old pro

Antonyms

STRONG

amateur ignoramus imbecile rookie

WEAK

greenhorn

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

People start claiming your hotshot 27-year-old offensive coordinator is the reason for your success.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 14, 2026

Shifting the center of mass rearward dramatically improved the Corvette’s balance and hotshot acceleration.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 18, 2025

Minka Kelly plays a hotshot executive — shorthand for misguided, unfulfilled — out to acquire a French Champagne vineyard.

From Los Angeles Times • Nov. 18, 2025

Top Gun was a breakthrough for Kilmer, who played Iceman, the rival to Cruise's hotshot Maverick at the US Navy's academy for elite fighter pilots.

From BBC • Apr. 4, 2025

“Come on, hotshot, let’s see what you got.’

From "Slam!" by Walter Dean Myers

hotshot

Example Sentences

Related Words