kick-ass

American

[kik-as] / ˈkɪkˌæs /

Or kickass

adjective

Slang.

strikingly or overwhelmingly tough, aggressive, powerful, or effective.

He finally built himself a kick-ass computer.

kick ass British

verb

to be impressive, esp in a forceful way

pop music that kicks ass

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

adjective

forceful, aggressive, and impressive

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

kick ass Idioms

Also, kick butt. Punish or discipline harshly; also, defeat soundly. For example, That foreman's furious; he's going to kick ass before the day is over, or Our team is out to kick butt today. [Vulgar slang; 1940s]

Etymology

Origin of kick-ass

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.

They kept up the pace on 1971's Master of Reality, with Osbourne describing Children Of The Grave as "the most kick-ass song we'd ever recorded".

From BBC • Jul. 23, 2025

Two new categories this year are best reality on-screen team and best kick-ass cast.

From Seattle Times • May 6, 2023

Directed by Daniel Kwan and Daniel Scheinert, known as Daniels, the film is an emotionally complex family drama wrapped inside a kick-ass sci-fi epic.

From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 22, 2023

“He didn’t do dead white man sociology, he did what I call kick-ass sociology,” Dr. Bullard said.

From New York Times • Sep. 12, 2022

I say she’s a kick-ass monster killer, wreaking justice on her pages.

From "Saints and Misfits" by S.K. Ali

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023