bodacious
adjective
bo·da·cious bō-ˈdā-shəs 
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."
Synonyms
- arresting
- bold
- brilliant
- catchy
- commanding
- conspicuous
- dramatic
- emphatic
- eye-catching
- flamboyant
- grabby
- kenspeckle [chiefly Scottish]
- marked
- noisy
- noticeable
- prominent
- pronounced
- remarkable
- showy
- splashy
- striking
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Tonight, Mama Ru passed the torch to Lizzo, the host and executive producer of Amazon Prime's bodacious dance competition, Lizzo's Watch Out for the Big Grrrls. 
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Have, like, a totally bodacious weekend, party people. Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 The inquisitive maker, who studied architecture and is a musician by trade, started dreaming up his bodacious boudoir armor three years ago. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 The song marks Meg’s first collaboration with Future, who meets her bodacious bars with horny lines delivered with his trademark frost. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2022 Leroy Valentín Fernández: Leroy, also known as Indara Valkayre, a bodacious drag queen who impersonated Beyoncé's moves on stage at Parliament House and favored big wigs, tight suits and big boots. Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2022 Raft The Numbers, a bodacious stretch of the Arkansas, with Browns Canyon Rafting. Outside Online, 18 June 2021 Gloria also has bodacious style, wearing fuchsia print shirts, metallic skirt suits, and necklaces dangling on her cleavage. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2022 My colleague Janelle Okwodu cited the bodacious Jessica Rabbit as an inspiration, and my former colleague Brooke Bobb sent over an image of Pamela Anderson at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival busting out of a leather corset and a pair of opera gloves. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2022 See More
Kristen Baldwin, EW.com, 13 Sep. 2022 Have, like, a totally bodacious weekend, party people. Erik Kain, Forbes, 13 Aug. 2022 The inquisitive maker, who studied architecture and is a musician by trade, started dreaming up his bodacious boudoir armor three years ago. Alice Newbold, Vogue, 2 Aug. 2022 The song marks Meg’s first collaboration with Future, who meets her bodacious bars with horny lines delivered with his trademark frost. Mankaprr Conteh, Rolling Stone, 22 July 2022 Leroy Valentín Fernández: Leroy, also known as Indara Valkayre, a bodacious drag queen who impersonated Beyoncé's moves on stage at Parliament House and favored big wigs, tight suits and big boots. Orlando Sentinel Staff, Orlando Sentinel, 12 June 2022 Raft The Numbers, a bodacious stretch of the Arkansas, with Browns Canyon Rafting. Outside Online, 18 June 2021 Gloria also has bodacious style, wearing fuchsia print shirts, metallic skirt suits, and necklaces dangling on her cleavage. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2022 My colleague Janelle Okwodu cited the bodacious Jessica Rabbit as an inspiration, and my former colleague Brooke Bobb sent over an image of Pamela Anderson at the 1995 Cannes Film Festival busting out of a leather corset and a pair of opera gloves. Liana Satenstein, Vogue, 13 Jan. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
probably blend of bold and audacious
First Known Use
1845, in the meaning defined at sense 1
bodacious
adjective
1
as in prominent
likely to attract attention the bodacious decor of the boutique hotel is intended to appeal to the young and the hip Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- prominent
- dramatic
- noticeable
- remarkable
- impressive
- commanding
- brilliant
- striking
- bold
- marked
- showy
- flamboyant
- conspicuous
- pronounced
- outstanding
- emphatic
- splashy
- eye-catching
- loud
- noisy
- catchy
- interesting
- arresting
- distinguished
- visible
- notable
- noteworthy
- highlighted
- grabby
- spectacular
- extravagant
- recognizable
- eminent
- salient
- ornate
- fancy
- discernible
- kenspeckle
- gaudy
- glaring
- tawdry
- glitzy
- flagrant
- swank
- flashy
- jazzy
- garish
- fascinating
- observable
- swanky
- detectable
- glittery
- meretricious
- screaming
- opulent
- perceptible
- pretentious
- ostentatious
- florid
- spotlighted
- riveting
- overwrought
- highfalutin
- discernable
- hifalutin
- enthralling
- howling
- overdone
- engrossing
- absorbing
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- inconspicuous
- subtle
- unremarkable
- obscure
- unobtrusive
- hidden
- modest
- unflamboyant
- dim
- shrouded
- unemphatic
- insignificant
- undistinguished
- unassuming
- concealed
- unshowy
- faint
- simple
- unpretentious
- unimportant
- plain
- conservative
- unaffected
- understated
- unnoticeable
- subtle
- quiet
- subdued
- restrained
- muted
- unflashy
- toned-down
2
as in sheer
Southern & Midland having no exceptions or restrictions had the bodacious gall to tell me that he'd return my lawn mower when he felt like it Synonyms & Similar Words
- sheer
- unconditional
- utter
- simple
- complete
- absolute
- pure
- total
- damned
- damn
- definite
- perfect
- deadly
- unmitigated
- very
- huge
- outright
- downright
- unadulterated
- real
- plumb
- blooming
- profound
- endless
- consummate
- unqualified
- thoroughgoing
- dreadful
- categorical
- regular
- clean
- thorough
- arrant
- blank
- stark
- stone
- unalloyed
- out-and-out
- straight-out
- flat-out
- all-out
- flat
- fair
- genuine
- veritable
- dead
- classic
- horrible
- authentic
- crashing
- rank
- extreme
- perpetual
- eternal
- terrible
- extraordinary
- constant
- terrific
- categoric
- unrestricted
- superlative
- undying
- supreme
- hopeless
- unremitting
- main
- frightful
- inveterate
- habitual
- surpassing
- confirmed
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- questionable
- dubious
- uncertain
- doubtful
- restricted
- qualified
- equivocal
3
as in sexy
sexually attractive a bodacious Hollywood couple always followed by paparazzi Synonyms & Similar Words
- sexy
- desirable
- hot
- luscious
- toothsome
- foxy
- dishy
- seductive
- nubile
- sultry
- alluring
- hunky
- studly
- vampish
- vampy