honey badger
• noun
A notably fierce, heavily built mustelid native to Africa, Southwest Asia, and the Indian subcontinent, known for its thick skin, physical strength, and defensive ferocity.
"Despite its relatively small size, the honey badger has been known to aggressively defend itself against lions and venomous snakes."
A person who exhibits extreme toughness, fearlessness, or a blatant disregard for danger, intimidation, and the opinions of others.
"On the rugby field, he earned the nickname 'honey badger' for his aggressive, relentless playing style and refusal to back down."
Word Nuance & Usage
While strictly a biological common name, the term entered popular internet culture in the early 2010s as a slang metaphor for an entity that is fearlessly indifferent to danger or adversity.
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Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.