badass
Americanadjective
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(of a person) difficult to deal with; mean-tempered and sometimes violent.
-
so tough, assertive, or independent as to be somewhat intimidating.
He is one badass sheriff who stops at nothing to solve a mystery.
-
awesome or impressive; worthy of admiration: a bluegrass band with a badass fiddler.
badass American sports cars;
a bluegrass band with a badass fiddler.
noun
-
badasses
plural
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a mean-tempered troublemaker.
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a somewhat intimidating person who is tough, assertive, or independent.
She’s a corporate badass who knows her worth.
noun
adjective
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tough or aggressive
a badass rock band
-
excellent
a real badass watch
Other Word Forms
Noun Inflected Forms
Etymology
Origin of badass
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.
See Examples For:
Now, he has to contend with replacing the memories of the other Asa with the reality of this badass sibling and accepting that he still may never see his parents ever again.
From Salon ● Jul. 18, 2026
Even Xavier, who’s obviously the most badass guy in the world, is not totally equipped.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 30, 2026
In short, Jarrell-Searcy was a bit of a badass.
From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2026
The University of Cambridge graduate proclaimed to all young girls watching on BBC TV: "You can be an academic badass and a track goddess."
From BBC ● Mar. 19, 2026
There’s a lot of stuff Manny has that Justyce doesn’t—two parents with six-figure salaries, a basement apartment, a badass car, crazy confidence...
From "Dear Martin" by Nic Stone
“That’s the thing about being a Raider, they’re badasses on the field, but they’re kittens off the field.”
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 15, 2022
They’re all badasses and we’re each other’s listening board.
From New York Times ● May 20, 2022
“They went through a horror movie,” Due said, before yelling at them, “I love you! You’re kinda badasses, you know?”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 21, 2021
Who better to portray godlike aliens, aerial crime-stoppers and lethally elegant badasses than dancers?
From Washington Post ● Jan. 8, 2020
And of course, the kids—some adorable, and some badasses.
From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
