Badass vs Cool vs Tough

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Badass

Informal Beyond 10,000 (less common)

Cool

Informal Top 1,000 (very common) A1 adjective

Tough

Top 1,000 (very common) B2 adjective

Most formal: Tough

	Badass	Cool	Tough
Pronunciation	🇬🇧 //ˈbæd.ɑːs// 🇺🇸 //ˈbæd.æs//	🇬🇧 /["/kuːl/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/kuːl/"]/	🇬🇧 /["/tʌf/"]/ 🇺🇸 /["/tʌf/"]/
Meaning	A tough or impressive person.	Something that is good or impressive.	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 competition was tough, but I managed to win first place.
Register	Informal	Informal	Neutral
How common	Beyond 10,000 (less common)	Top 1,000 (very common)	Top 1,000 (very common)
CEFR level	-	A1	B2
Part of speech		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, 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	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.	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 '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 Tough

What's the difference between Badass, Cool, and Tough?

Badass: A tough or impressive person. Cool: Something that is good or impressive. Tough: Hard or difficult to deal with

Which is more formal: Badass, Cool, and Tough?

Tough is the most formal of these.

Which is more advanced: Badass, Cool, 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. Tough: The competition was tough, but I managed to win first place.

Can I use Badass, Cool, and Tough interchangeably?

Not always. Badass, Cool, 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.