in a bad way

idiom

: in a bad state or condition

Without enough funding, public services are in a pretty bad way right now.

Examples of in a bad way in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

In higher-end neighborhoods, buyers expect a turnkey feel—and the wrong appliances can stand out in a bad way. —Aliyah Rodriguez, The Spruce, 20 Jan. 2026

Boasting a glossy, CGI-anime style that’s monstrous (in a bad way) to look at, the trilogy is light on any of the traditional hallmarks of the kaiju genre. —James Grebey, Vulture, 9 Jan. 2026

For some of the executive sources, who asked to speak anonymously to us, Netflix’s $83 billion pending purchase of Warner Bros was symbolic in a bad way: A price that high indicates that the streamer is out to decimate the theatrical business. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 26 Dec. 2025

This lunation might feel more sensitive than usual, not in a bad way, but in a way that encourages you to root deeper into what feels nourishing and real. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 30 Nov. 2025

Rhymes for in a bad way

• andromache
• bioassay
• cabriolet
• cercariae
• communique
• companionway
• compositae
• decussate
• examinee
• fabaceae
• glyphosate
• microarray