badass
badass Lexical Profile
badass Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Tough, uncompromising, or intimidating in a way that commands respect or admiration.
"The lead actress played a badass detective who refused to back down from corrupt officials."
Exceptionally cool, impressive, or excellent.
"She rode up to the concert venue on a badass vintage motorcycle."
• noun
A tough, fearless, or formidable person who commands respect or admiration.
"After completing the ultramarathon in freezing rain, she was hailed as an absolute badass by her teammates."
An aggressive, intimidating, or belligerent person who is quick to cause trouble.
"He liked to act like a badass in his youth, but he mellowed considerably as he grew older."
Word Nuance & Usage
Although originally a derogatory slang term for a belligerent troublemaker, "badass" is now predominantly used in informal speech as a term of strong praise for someone or something impressively tough, fearless, or cool. Because it contains a mild profanity, it should be avoided in formal or professional registers.
Word Origin & Etymology
Coined in mid-20th-century American slang (first attested in the 1950s among military personnel and street subcultures) by combining "bad" (in the slang sense of tough or formidable) with "ass" (used metonymically to refer to a person).