Semantic Memes Badass by Brendan|Published June 9, 2014 I propose that: ‘badass‘ = (awesomly) cool + (intimidatingly) powerful I admit that the Neil deGrasse Tyson “badass-meme” is taking the term in a different direction. God love him. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-sp1QyieuMg?t=2m4s