1
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a bad first attempt at making meat loaf resulted in a soggy, inedible mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
stealing is just plain bad
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3
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
sitting too close to the television is said to be bad for the eyes
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4
as in naughty
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
the children were bad, so they didn't get dessert
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5
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad
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6
as in defective
having a fault
a bad video connection that is causing some picture loss
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7
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
I think the milk has turned bad
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8
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
the air in the damp basement had a very bad smell
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9
as in terrible
of low quality
bad shoes that fell apart within a week
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10
as in poorly
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
I've been feeling bad all week with this cold
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11
as in null
having no legal or binding force
all known claims on the property were dismissed by the court as bad
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12
as in malicious
slang
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
with all of his tattoos and piercings, that skinhead looks like one really bad dude
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as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
you didn't do too bad on the treadmill test
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as in wrong
that which is morally unacceptable
there's bad and good in people of every race and nationality
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bad
Arkansas Online, 21 June 2026
That’s not to say Mayfield didn’t make some poor throws and worse decisions.
—Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026
Judy Berman, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
Pull leftovers that still need to be eaten to the front, along with any foods that are going to go bad soon.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2025
Mellissa Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023
Good drama is the choice between two bads.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for bad
Adjective
Some said the smoke was as bad as, if not worse than, during the fire that burned in Altadena in January 2025.
—Arkansas Online, 21 June 2026
That’s not to say Mayfield didn’t make some poor throws and worse decisions.
—Rick Stroud, The Orlando Sentinel, 21 June 2026
Adverb
The dialogue sometimes lapses from bad-funny to just bad.
—Judy Berman, Time, 21 Jan. 2026
Pull leftovers that still need to be eaten to the front, along with any foods that are going to go bad soon.
—Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2025
Noun
Despite the obvious bad, there was undeniable good.
—Mellissa Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023
Good drama is the choice between two bads.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for bad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad
Adjective
-
Warsh called that unacceptable and kept saying so.—
Eva Roytburg,
Fortune,
17 June 2026
-
This proposal is utterly unacceptable.—
Letters to the Editor,
The Orlando Sentinel,
17 June 2026
Adjective
-
Zoroastrianism’s core tenets – a single God, the cosmic struggle between good and evil – are widely believed by historians to have formed the theological groundwork for the major Abrahamic religions.—
Rhea Mogul,
CNN Money,
21 June 2026
-
Not all devices are evil, the toys realize, and even the best machines—like even the best toys—will eventually break down and get tossed aside for a shiny new model.—
Justin Chang,
New Yorker,
19 June 2026
Adjective
-
Telegram said its moderation systems remove millions of pieces of harmful content each month, including non-consensual pornography.—
Hanako Montgomery,
CNN Money,
22 June 2026
-
Developing a negative self-view as a result of these harmful experiences during your formative years is not uncommon.—
Christina Balderrama-Durbin,
The Conversation,
22 June 2026
Adjective
-
Has Greta eaten or chewed on anything naughty?—
Breanne L. Heldman,
PEOPLE,
13 June 2026
-
The play was naughty stuff in 1925, when the show, starring Tallulah Bankhead, got banned.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
Adjective
-
Este is sad — Este is depressed-y.—
Mikael Wood,
Los Angeles Times,
18 June 2026
-
How sad or scary is ‘Toy Story 5’?—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Boasberg issued a temporary restraining order and ordered that the planes be turned around, but Justice Department attorneys said his oral instructions directing the flight to be returned were defective, and the deportations proceeded as planned.—
Peter Charalambous,
ABC News,
22 June 2026
-
For generations, Americans have debated consumer protection through the lens of defective products, predatory lenders, unsafe food, and identity theft.—
Richard Fowler,
Forbes.com,
18 June 2026
Adjective
-
Consequently, between Dick’s stubborn disposition and the fun the Indians had, Dick never worked much and was spoiled rotten.—
Dolores Brown,
Outdoor Life,
17 June 2026
-
Hydrogen sulfide smells like rotten eggs and ammonia gives off notes of urine, sweat or dead fish.—
Bill Kearney,
Sun Sentinel,
12 June 2026
Adjective
-
Fresh grass clippings are great for masking naturally unpleasant odors in the garden by simply using them to cover the offensive materials.—
Peg Aloi,
The Spruce,
21 June 2026
-
This could be an indication that the P-trap under the sink has dried out, which means water no longer blocks unpleasant smells from rising.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
20 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 24 Jun. 2026.
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