1
chiefly US, informal + sometimes impolite
: ready to cause or get into trouble : mean
pretending to be a badass gunslinger—
L. L. King
L. L. King2
chiefly US, informal + sometimes impolite
: of formidable strength or skill
such a badass guitar player—N'Gai Croal
N'Gai Croal
chiefly US, informal + sometimes impolite
: a person who is badass
Examples of badass in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 27 June 2025
Marty Rifkin is a badass steel guitarist, one of the absolute best in the country.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2025
That would be Daryl Dixon, following the adventures of the badass biker overseas, recently adding his BFF Carol back into the mix.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
There wasn’t all that much to John in his first movie, either, but Reeves found something wry in his character’s reluctant un-retirement from life in the suburbs and return to being a notorious badass, while de Armas just defaults toward the dour.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 June 2025
Secondly, having our warships named after civil rights (as opposed to political or military) leaders is badass and cool.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
And Nicky turns from being a hot mess into the most loyal, badass, solid sister.
—Deadline, 4 June 2025
After all, hiking a long trail is about having a badass adventure, not trudging nose-to-the-proverbial-grindstone for months on end.
—Eric J. Wallace, Outside Online, 31 May 2025
Another local act, Maggie Rose, who recently earned a Grammy nomination for her album No One Gets Out Alive, is also on the bill, along with the Heavy Heavy, American Aquarium, Alabama country badass Taylor Hunnicutt, Eddie 9V, Angel White, and Verygently.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
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Noun
That's a pretty good metaphor for Cliff Booth, who is equal parts suave and badass.
—Derek Scancarelli, EW.com, 27 June 2025
Marty Rifkin is a badass steel guitarist, one of the absolute best in the country.
—Andy Greene, Rolling Stone, 19 June 2025
That would be Daryl Dixon, following the adventures of the badass biker overseas, recently adding his BFF Carol back into the mix.
—Paul Tassi, Forbes.com, 10 June 2025
There wasn’t all that much to John in his first movie, either, but Reeves found something wry in his character’s reluctant un-retirement from life in the suburbs and return to being a notorious badass, while de Armas just defaults toward the dour.
—Alison Willmore, Vulture, 4 June 2025
Secondly, having our warships named after civil rights (as opposed to political or military) leaders is badass and cool.
—Carlo Versano, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 June 2025
And Nicky turns from being a hot mess into the most loyal, badass, solid sister.
—Deadline, 4 June 2025
After all, hiking a long trail is about having a badass adventure, not trudging nose-to-the-proverbial-grindstone for months on end.
—Eric J. Wallace, Outside Online, 31 May 2025
Another local act, Maggie Rose, who recently earned a Grammy nomination for her album No One Gets Out Alive, is also on the bill, along with the Heavy Heavy, American Aquarium, Alabama country badass Taylor Hunnicutt, Eddie 9V, Angel White, and Verygently.
—Joseph Hudak, Rolling Stone, 16 Apr. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Badass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/badass. Accessed 5 Jul. 2025.
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