badland

noun

bad·​land ˈbad-ˌland How to pronounce badland (audio)
Synonyms of badlandnext
: a region marked by intricate erosional sculpturing, scanty vegetation, and fantastically formed hills
usually used in plural

Examples of badland in a Sentence

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.
At 88, the legendary artist, dressed in a black smock, was filmed walking through the eroded sculptural features of the badlands, her face furrowed by age, her eyes still blazing. John Burnett, NPR, 14 Mar. 2026 Hiking the craggy landscape of Pinnacles National Park, forged by volcanic eruptions so long ago, might leave one as famished as a California condor — which indeed call these badlands home. John Metcalfe, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026 The Red Shirt Table overlook of the badlands on the Oglala Sioux's Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Philip Wang, Time, 18 Feb. 2026 Parks range from the volcanic sprawl of stone hoodoos crowning Chiricahua National Monument to the gaudy badlands of Petrified Forest National Park to the miles of seductive shoreline at Glen Canyon National Recreation Area. Roger Naylor, AZCentral.com, 29 Jan. 2026 See All Example Sentences for badland

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of badland was in 1850

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Badland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/badland. Accessed 18 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

badland

noun
bad·​land ˈbad-ˌland How to pronounce badland (audio)
: a region where natural forces have worn away the soft rocks into sharp and complicated shapes and where plant life is scarce
usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on badland

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

More from Merriam-Webster