Cool MateBadass vs Cool vs Impressive vs Tough
When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.
Badass
InformalBeyond 10,000 (less common)
Cool
InformalTop 1,000 (very common)A1adjective
Impressive
Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective
Tough
Top 1,000 (very common)B2adjective
| Badass | Cool | Impressive | Tough | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pronunciation | 🇬🇧 //ˈbæd.ɑːs//🇺🇸 //ˈbæd.æs// | 🇬🇧 /["/kuːl/"]/🇺🇸 /["/kuːl/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/ɪmˈpresɪv/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ɪmˈpresɪv/"]/ | 🇬🇧 /["/tʌf/"]/🇺🇸 /["/tʌf/"]/ |
| Meaning | A tough or impressive person. | Something that is good or impressive. | Something that makes you feel admiration or respect. | Hard or difficult to deal with |
| Example | She is a badass who stands up for what she believes in. | The weather is really cool today. | The magician's tricks were truly impressive and left everyone in awe. | The competition was tough, but I managed to win first place. |
| Register | Informal | Informal | Neutral | Neutral |
| How common | Beyond 10,000 (less common) | Top 1,000 (very common) | Top 2,000 (common) | Top 1,000 (very common) |
| CEFR level | - | A1 | B1 | B2 |
| Part of speech | adjective | adjective | adjective | |
| Collocations | badass attitude, badass style, badass character, badass friend, badass performance | be, feel, look, very, a little, slightly, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, be, look, sound, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, look, very, pretty, about, with, cool, calm and collected, act, appear, be, distinctly, very, rather, about, towards/toward, appear, be, look, very, pretty, about, with, cool, calm and collected | be, look, seem, extremely, fairly, very | be, seem, get, extremely, fairly, very, on, be, become, get, extremely, fairly, very, on, with, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, appear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very |
| Antonyms | coward, weakling | uncool, boring, uninteresting | unimpressive, ordinary, unremarkable | easy, soft, gentle |
| Common mistakes | Using 'badass' in formal writing., Confusing 'badass' with 'bad' - 'badass' has a positive connotation., Not recognizing its use as a compliment. | Using 'cool' to describe temperatures or weather instead of mood or style., Confusing 'cool' with 'great' in contexts where a specific feeling is implied., Overusing 'cool' in formal or academic situations where more precise vocabulary is needed. | Confusing with 'impressing' which is a verb form., Using it in a negative context mistakenly., Incorrectly placing it before the noun without an article. | Using 'tough' as a noun — 'He is a tough' should be 'He is tough'., Confusing 'tough' with 'though' in casual speech., Overusing 'tough' in contexts where 'difficult' is more suitable. |
| Usage notes | Used to describe someone who is strong, confident, or cool. It's informal and often used in casual contexts. | Use 'cool' to describe things that are stylish or admirable. It's very informal, so avoid it in formal writing or conversations. Can imply calmness in some contexts. | Use 'impressive' to describe something that stands out or makes a strong positive impact. It's appropriate in both spoken and written contexts, but may sound less natural in casual settings where simpler words might work better. | Use 'tough' to describe something that is difficult, whether it's a situation or a person’s character. It's appropriate in both casual and formal contexts but may sound too informal in very serious discussions. |
Frequently asked questions: Badass vs Cool vs Impressive vs Tough
What's the difference between Badass, Cool, Impressive, and Tough?
Badass: A tough or impressive person. Cool: Something that is good or impressive. Impressive: Something that makes you feel admiration or respect. Tough: Hard or difficult to deal with
Which is more advanced: Badass, Cool, Impressive, and Tough?
Tough is the highest level, at B2, on the CEFR scale.
Can you show an example of each?
Badass: She is a badass who stands up for what she believes in. Cool: The weather is really cool today. Impressive: The magician's tricks were truly impressive and left everyone in awe. Tough: The competition was tough, but I managed to win first place.
Can I use Badass, Cool, Impressive, and Tough interchangeably?
Not always. Badass, Cool, Impressive, and Tough are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.