variants or less commonly baddy
plural baddies
Synonyms of baddienext
1
informal : a bad person or thing
And that coaching pick. I admit, lots of NBA [=National Basketball Association] people think it's a goodie. Well, I think it's a baddie.Tom Kertes
These cells are used to winning—they take down baddies such as viruses and bacteria on a daily basis.Daniel Strain
especially : the villain in a story : bad guy
… Darth Maul, the stylishly malevolent baddie whose toys are flying off shelves. Newsweek
… a mustachioed baddy fighting a plucky heroine, both of them kicking and whirling … Louisa Lim
2
slang : a person (especially a woman) who is confident, stylish, and attractive
felt/looked/dressed like a baddie
If you wear your style with pride, you are a baddie.Gerrita Bikker
… every hot baddie stomping down the sidewalk to the beat of her own drum …Kristy Puchko
… a great layering piece that also adds … the ultimate baddie vibes to any look.Tarah-Lynn Saint-Elien

Note: Usage of this sense originated in African American English and has since become widespread.

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Slang Meaning of Baddie

Baddie has a slang meaning, referring to someone (usually a woman) who is confident, stylish, and attractive. Learn more >

Examples of baddie in a Sentence

the actor has never been cast as a hero, but he's played every kind of baddie imaginable
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Annabelle Wallis plays Ellis, the ship’s unlikely and too-pretty third mate, who gives Statham an assist with the random international baddies who make up the crew. Katie Walsh, Boston Herald, 20 Aug. 2026 The Villains Land expansion will open as the first-ever Disney Parks land themed entirely to the studio’s villains, after fans have long lobbied for Disney to build a land — or even an entire theme park — dedicated to Disney’s iconic baddies. Joey Nolfi, Entertainment Weekly, 16 Aug. 2026 The clip released last night shows this is a more complex, sinister strategist than Josh Brolin’s crash-bang-boom baddie Thanos from the previous Avengers pics. Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 15 Aug. 2026 Not only has Rey just lost her Jedi master, Luke Skywalker, but Luke’s lightsaber was damaged in a battle with First Order baddie Kylo Ren (aka Leia's son). Brian Truitt, USA Today, 27 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for baddie

Word History

Etymology

bad entry 1 + -ie

First Known Use

1872, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of baddie was in 1872

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Cite this Entry

“Baddie.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/baddie. Accessed 26 Aug. 2026.

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