bad boy

noun

: a person who flouts convention
a literary bad boy

Examples of bad boy in a Sentence

He has become known as the bad boy of the American television industry.
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.
Wahlberg was a 20-something bad boy who took a more meat-and-potatoes (or Peter Berg and Peter Berg) route to popular success. Joe Reid, Vulture, 13 Mar. 2026 Quaid said The Parent Trap started a new chapter of his career after spending much of the 1990s playing bad boys. Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 12 Mar. 2026 In 2009, the former Hollywood bad boy won the Oscar for best actor in a leading role for Milk, delivering an unforgettable performance as Harvey Milk, the first openly gay politician elected in the United States after years of fighting for LGBTQ+ rights. Francesca Pellegrini, Vanity Fair, 11 Mar. 2026 McLeod plays a Scottish backpacker in Australia’s Sydney determining to become carer for bad boy rock’n’roll legend Mike. John Hopewell, Variety, 23 Feb. 2026 See All Example Sentences for bad boy

Word History

First Known Use

1860, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of bad boy was in 1860

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Bad boy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bad%20boy. Accessed 16 Mar. 2026.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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