The most common and most likely answer to this crossword clue is the 7 letter word TOUGHER
I've seen this crossword clue in The Guardian
T
O
U
G
H
E
R
Buddy explains!

The straight part
We know that "more badass" is the straight/definition part of the clue. The straight part is often a synonym or definition, in this case more badass = tougher.The cryptic/wordplay part
In cryptic crossword there's often an wordplay/cryptic part as well.This part involves a more complex hint, such as an anagram, homophone, hidden word, etc.
Sadly, We don't have an explanation for this specific crossword clue yet.
What does TOUGHER mean?
TOUGHER adjective- Strong and resilient; sturdy.
- (of food) Difficult to cut or chew.
- Rugged or physically hardy.
- Stubborn.
- (of weather etc) Harsh or severe.
- Rowdy or rough.
- (of questions, etc.) Difficult or demanding.
- Undergoing plastic deformation before breaking.