1
: any of several hardy gregarious (see gregarious sense 1a) African or Asian perissodactyl mammals (genus Equus) smaller than the horse and having long ears
especially
: an African mammal (E. africanus) that is the ancestor of the donkey
2
informal + impolite
: a stupid, stubborn, or detestable person
a pompous ass
made an ass of himself
He was an ass to her, dissing her script (which he apparently lost), telling her women couldn't be artists and that she looked so much prettier with makeup on.—
Lauren Piester
—often compounded with a preceding adjectiveLauren PiesterDon't be a smart-ass.
1
2
offensive
: sexual intercourse
informal + impolite
—used as a postpositive intensive especially with words of derogatory implication
fancy-ass
Synonyms
Examples of ass in a Sentence
Noun (1)
the farm kept a few asses for hauling hay in and out of the field
Recent Examples on the Web
Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
Those chicks were the whole package — great asses, long legs, and fabulous clothes.
—Cher, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Had a heartbreaker last week and then getting our ass kicked this week.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Better to be the lowest-down dirtiest devil of the underground than get your ass handed to you by one.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ass 
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Noun
By Stephanie Zacharek November 22, 2024 10:58 AM EST
The pleasures of Ridley Scott’s Gladiator II are numerous: There’s Paul Mescal as scrappy gladiator Lucius, bent on kicking as much Roman ass as possible.
—Stephanie Zacharek, TIME, 22 Nov. 2024
Those chicks were the whole package — great asses, long legs, and fabulous clothes.
—Cher, Vulture, 19 Nov. 2024
Had a heartbreaker last week and then getting our ass kicked this week.
—Brad Biggs, Chicago Tribune, 4 Nov. 2024
Better to be the lowest-down dirtiest devil of the underground than get your ass handed to you by one.
—Andy Andersen, Vulture, 3 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for ass
Dictionary Entries Near ass
Cite this Entry
“Ass.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/ass. Accessed 30 Nov. 2024.
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