kick ass

1 of 2

phrase

informal + impolite : to kick butt

kick-ass

2 of 2

adjective

informal + impolite
: strikingly or overwhelmingly tough, aggressive, powerful, or effective

Examples of kick ass in a Sentence

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.
Adjective
At that point, a loud drum fill announces itself, snarling electric guitars kick in and McCartney’s trademark howls of old arrive in time for a fairly kick-ass chorus. Chris Willman, Variety, 23 May 2026 But as bad as the camps were, the season otherwise did a great job of incorporating Chinese culture into the theme of the challenges and rewards—including an overnight on the Great Wall and a kick-ass trip to the Shaolin Temple. Dalton Ross, Entertainment Weekly, 22 May 2026 With his roundhouse kicks, tough-guy one-liners and a formidable moral compass, Chuck Norris delivered kick-ass heroes for years on screens large and small, cementing himself in pop culture back in the 1980s. Emily St. Martin, Los Angeles Times, 20 Mar. 2026 The wicked original was a black satire with ripping action and a kick-ass lead played with intelligence. Michael Ordoña, Houston Chronicle, 19 Mar. 2026 Datebook Picks The wicked original was a black satire with ripping action and a kick-ass lead played with intelligence. Michael Ordoña, San Francisco Chronicle, 18 Mar. 2026 But at least it was done in the most kick-ass way possible. Jack King, Vulture, 17 Dec. 2025 Pippi is this young, really strong, nine-year-old kick-ass gal, redefining the roles in a strict little town where people don’t expect a young lass to be living on her own. Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 16 Dec. 2025 Knight’s work includes SAS Rogue Heroes, Peaky Blinders and Eastern Promises, all of them featuring kick-ass, bone-crunching scenes. Baz Bamigboye, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

1970, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of kick ass was in 1970

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Cite this Entry

“Kick ass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/kick%20ass. Accessed 1 Jun. 2026.

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