badassery

noun

bad·​ass·​e·​ry ˈbad-ˈa-sə-rē How to pronounce badassery (audio)
chiefly US, informal + sometimes impolite
1
: the state or condition of being a badass : a badass quality or character
Back then, Matt Damon … wasn't exactly anyone's idea of an action star. … But his newfound badassery turned The Bourne Identity into a sleeper hit …Chris Nashawaty
2
: actions or behaviors characteristic of a badass
There's crazy stunts. … you're going to see her do a bunch of badassery.Leslie Grace, quoted in Variety
She enjoys giving a speech to a roomful of Hollywood heavy hitters. She practices "badassery" in all things.Meredith Maran
No way I'm missing a single second of Rolling Stones or Guns N' Roses badassery.Matt Wake

Examples of badassery in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
These examples are automatically compiled from online sources to illustrate current usage. Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
In the 1950s, the pioneering computer scientist Grace Hopper designed a language called FLOW-MATIC (a name whose badassery has yet to be outdone) that used plain-English-like commands such as IF EQUAL TO and READ-ITEM. Clive Thompson, WIRED, 29 July 2024 The balance between emotional intelligence and spy badassery is part of the electric charm that lands Forger this high on the list. Angelica Jade Bastién, Vulture, 31 May 2024

Word History

Etymology

badass entry 1 + -ery

First Known Use

1992, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of badassery was in 1992

Dictionary Entries Near badassery

Cite this Entry

“Badassery.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/badassery. Accessed 13 Nov. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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