badass

American  

[bad-as] / ˈbædˌæs /

adjective

1. (of a person) difficult to deal with; mean-tempered and sometimes violent.

2. so tough, assertive, or independent as to be somewhat intimidating.

   He is one badass sheriff who stops at nothing to solve a mystery.

3. awesome or impressive; worthy of admiration: a bluegrass band with a badass fiddler.

   badass American sports cars;

   a bluegrass band with a badass fiddler.

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noun

• badasses
  plural

1. a mean-tempered troublemaker.

2. a somewhat intimidating person who is tough, assertive, or independent.

   She’s a corporate badass who knows her worth.

badass British  

/ ˈbædˌæs /

noun

1. a tough or aggressive person

   the meanest badass in town

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adjective

1. tough or aggressive

   a badass rock band

2. excellent

   a real badass watch

Other Word Forms

Noun Inflected Forms

• badasses
  plural

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Etymology

Origin of badass

First recorded in 1950–55; bad ¹ + ass ²

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

badass badasses

"I think because I'm playing such a badass, I think he's going to love that we used his song in that particular moment in the show," she said.

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

“They didn’t even need lyrics — that’s how badass this band is,” he pointed out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 11, 2026

“Talladega Nights” pegs this missing link between America’s urban past and its exurban future from its opening seconds, putting a quote about “hot, nasty, badass speed” in the mouth of New York Swell Eleanor Roosevelt.

From Salon ● Aug. 16, 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

I spent most of my afternoon trying to make sense of that quote, thinking maybe it was Margo’s way of telling me to become more of a badass or something.

From "Paper Towns" by John Green

Every single one of those girls, they’re badasses.

From Los Angeles Times ● Dec. 16, 2025

“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

And to keep lighting that for generations to come, mis hijas y mis nietas, until the time all Latinas and indigenous women are seen for the queens and badasses we've always known we are.

From Salon ● Jan. 26, 2020

And of course, the kids—some adorable, and some badasses.

From "The Boy in the Black Suit" by Jason Reynolds

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