1
a
: failing to reach an acceptable standard : poor
a bad repair job
b
: unfavorable
make a bad impression
c
: not fresh : spoiled
bad fish
d
: not sound : dilapidated
The house was in bad condition.
2
a
: morally objectionable : evil
bad men
b
: mischievous, disobedient
a bad dog
3
: inadequate or unsuited to a purpose
a bad plan that failed
bad lighting
4
: disagreeable, unpleasant
bad news
badness
noun
see also:
Examples of bad in a Sentence
Adjective
The house is in bad condition.
a letter written in bad French
He had a bad day at the office.
I was having a bad dream.
She made a very bad impression on her future colleagues.
We've been having bad weather lately.
The medicine left a bad taste in his mouth.
It's a bad time for business right now.
Things are looking pretty bad for us at this point.
I have a bad feeling about this.
Recent Examples on the Web
Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Local governments across the Charlotte region are receiving hundreds of complaints about residents violating mandatory drought restrictions as officials ramp up enforcement during one of the area’s worst droughts in years.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
The remaining 10 teams that miss the playoffs and the play-in will all get three lottery balls — with the exception of the three worst teams in the standings.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
In the show’s second season, Sylvia’s burgeoning event-planning business put her on a collision course with her platonic bestie’s bad-idea wedding, leaving her plenty of space to stumble and spin out within the show’s blessedly joke-heavy sensibility.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bad
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Adjective
Doctors have historically done a bad job counseling patients about weight loss, and many people aren’t comfortable talking to their primary care doctor about it, Ard said.
—Maia Rosenfeld, NBC news, 29 May 2026
Local governments across the Charlotte region are receiving hundreds of complaints about residents violating mandatory drought restrictions as officials ramp up enforcement during one of the area’s worst droughts in years.
—Nora O'Neill, Charlotte Observer, 29 May 2026
The remaining 10 teams that miss the playoffs and the play-in will all get three lottery balls — with the exception of the three worst teams in the standings.
—Tim Reynolds, Chicago Tribune, 29 May 2026
In the show’s second season, Sylvia’s burgeoning event-planning business put her on a collision course with her platonic bestie’s bad-idea wedding, leaving her plenty of space to stumble and spin out within the show’s blessedly joke-heavy sensibility.
—Joe Reid, Vulture, 29 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bad
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/bad. Accessed 10 Jun. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
bad
1 of 3 adjective1
2
: not good or right : morally evil or wrong
a bad person
bad behavior
3
: not enough
bad lighting
4
: disagreeable sense 1, unpleasant
bad news
5
a
: harmful
bad for the health
b
: severe sense 3
a bad cold
7
: ill entry 1 sense 2c, sick
feel bad
8
: sorrowful sense 1, sorry
don't feel bad about losing
badness
noun
bad
2 of 3 noun1
: a bad thing or part
take the bad with the good
2
: a bad or unhappy state
go to the bad
bad
3 of 3 adverb
: badly
not doing so bad
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