kick-ass
adjective
strikingly or overwhelmingly tough, aggressive, powerful, or effective.
kick-ass
American
[kik-as]
/ ˈkɪkˌæs /
Or
kickass
adjective
Slang.
kick ass
British
verb
adjective
kick ass
Idioms
Etymology
Origin of kick-ass
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:
Boldest yet, perhaps, was “Tron: Ares” — as a neon thrill ride that doubled as a music video for one of the most kick-ass, ’80s-coded Nine Inch Nails soundtracks.
From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 1, 2025
The campaign itself has a kick-ass social media team that's churning out memes, TikToks, tweets and Instagram stories that are clever, pointed and tuned in.
From Salon ● Sep. 13, 2024
“It was on my dream board, right next to ‘running a kick-ass theater company’,” he joked, of the UNC job.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 25, 2024
She points to "more vulnerable representations of women on screen when women are writing", adding she knows younger actresses who "lament the fact that they're always playing kick-ass characters".
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2022
“I’m sure. I’m the producer. All I want you to worry about is making the most kick-ass movie you can make.”
From "From Twinkle, with Love" by Sandhya Menon
I would like to think I also kick ass at work like Hildy, I am in banking and finance and I think I look good while doing good work.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 17, 2026
Sabalenka responded by saying she was ready to "kick ass" -- setting up an intriguing end to the 2025 tennis season.
From Barron's ● Nov. 4, 2025
I’m excited for you to kick ass and take names.
From Slate ● Oct. 21, 2022
That, ‘Hey, it’s important to kick ass, but you still got to be a nice person.’
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2022
If I could kick ass in the school talent show two years in a row, I can kick ass now.
From "Leah on the Offbeat" by Becky Albertalli
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.
