bodacious

adjective

bo·​da·​cious bō-ˈdā-shəs How to pronounce bodacious (audio)
1
Southern US and Midland US : outright, unmistakable
2
: remarkable, noteworthy
a bodacious bargain
3
: sexy, voluptuous
bodacious babes
bodaciously adverb

Did you know?

Some of our readers may know bodacious as a word that figured prominently in the lingo of the 1989 film Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure. Others may recall the term's frequent use in the long-running "Snuffy Smith" comic strip. Neither the creators of the comic strip nor the movie can claim to have coined bodacious, which began appearing in print during the 1800s, but both likely contributed to its popularity. The exact origin of the word is uncertain, but it was most likely influenced by bold and audacious, and it may be linked to boldacious, a term from British dialect meaning "brazen" or "impudent."

Examples of bodacious in a Sentence

a singer with a bodacious voice the bodacious decor of the boutique hotel is intended to appeal to the young and the hip
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.
The man drenches her body in petroleum, then uses it to make expressionist paintings that decorate his bodacious seaside villa. Jordan Mintzer, The Hollywood Reporter, 16 Feb. 2025 In 2018, our own Tennessean reporters ranked it the most bodacious bathroom in Nashville. Mackensy Lunsford, The Tennessean, 16 Apr. 2024 Much like the Vegas statue known as the Blue Angel — a 15-foot-tall figure of a bodacious female seraph that was installed when the Rat Pack were in residence — Shelly has achieved monument status. Manohla Dargis, New York Times, 9 Jan. 2025 Yesterday evening the legacy space kicked off its succinct and bodacious night with a cocktail hour. Robyn Mowatt, Essence, 30 Oct. 2024 See All Example Sentences for bodacious

Word History

Etymology

probably blend of bold and audacious

First Known Use

1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of bodacious was in 1845

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Cite this Entry

“Bodacious.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bodacious. Accessed 10 Mar. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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