bad 1 of 3

1
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard a bad first attempt at making meat loaf resulted in a soggy, inedible mess

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2
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable stealing is just plain bad

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as in sad
feeling unhappiness hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad

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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

bad

2 of 3

adverb

bad

3 of 3

noun

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bad news
awful news
bad weather
poor weather
awful weather
terrible weather
nasty weather
unfavorable weather
bad luck
rotten luck
lousy luck
a bad idea
a foolish idea
a dangerous idea
a poor idea
an unwise idea
an awful idea
bad behavior
malicious behavior
naughty behavior
poor behavior
terrible behavior
awful behavior

Example Sentences

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.
Recent Examples of bad
Adjective
Aid groups say the humanitarian crisis is worse than at any time in the 19-month war. Wafaa Shurafa, Time, 11 May 2025 Below, a few of my favorite books about bad mothering, from the benignly neglectful to the downright evil. Sarah Harman, People.com, 11 May 2025
Adverb
Ignoring one of them can lead you to bad-looking maps no one would prefer. J. Richard Gott, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2021 The researchers think that by expelling their bad-tasting innards when fish are nibbling nearby, sea squirts may drive the fish away. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2015
Noun
In the Avenge the Earth storyline, those big bads included Apocalypse, the first mutant, and, of course, Kang the Conqueror. Joe George, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023 So what was the rationale behind introducing our new big bad in the exact opposite way? Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2023 See All Example Sentences for bad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad
Adjective
  • All these attacks are unacceptable, and this isn't just an American problem.
    Mandalit del Barco, NPR, 13 May 2025
  • That should be unacceptable to American negotiators.
    Benjamin Weinthal, FOXNews.com, 12 May 2025
Adjective
  • Will the company itself go rogue and opt to use AGI for evil deeds?
    Lance Eliot, Forbes.com, 17 May 2025
  • In an incisive observation of the way that an adult’s words can sometimes settle on a child with unusual weight, I-Jing absorbs this folk superstition without question, and begins to shoplift gaudy trinkets from surrounding market stalls, only ever using her evil left hand.
    Jessica Kiang, Variety, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • Located in the stratosphere, the ozone layer acts like sunscreen, blocking potentially harmful ultraviolet energy from reaching our planet's surface.
    Doyle Rice, USA Today, 20 May 2025
  • Even apps like YouTube Kids can expose kids to harmful content.
    Anna Halkidis, Parents, 19 May 2025
Adjective
  • They are seen flinging a pizza box into their bucolic yard, smearing their faces with paint, raising their middle fingers, and saying naughty words.
    Peter Tonguette, Washington Examiner - Political News and Conservative Analysis About Congress, the President, and the Federal Government, 21 Mar. 2025
  • Listen to this article There’s nice Torrey Pines and naughty Torrey Pines.
    Bryce Miller, San Diego Union-Tribune, 23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
  • For someone who prizes roadside Americana, this is the visual version of the sad trombone sound.
    Christopher Reynolds, Los Angeles Times, 15 May 2025
  • After the show, there's booze, girls, and hotel suites, but Abel's locked in the bathroom, being sad.
    Jordan Hoffman, EW.com, 15 May 2025
Adjective
  • That leads estate planners to recommend to some clients an intentionally defective grantor trust (IDGT).
    Bob Carlson, Forbes, 13 Mar. 2025
  • The parts planning team, which uses a separate system with different data, mistakenly orders a big batch of the now defective parts before getting the update.
    Sean O'Neill, Forbes, 12 Mar. 2025
Adjective
  • There are two types of repellents: Taste, which often contains capsaicin and requires the animal to take a nibble; and odor, which is sulfur-based and smells like rotten eggs.
    Arricca Elin SanSone, Southern Living, 10 May 2025
  • The smell, an odor like rotten eggs, is the sargassum piles decomposing, according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
    Mitchell Willetts, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Apr. 2025
Adjective
  • Daily use by adolescents and adults can result in another unpleasant side effect: uncontrollable vomiting, according to a 2021 study.
    Sandee LaMotte, CNN Money, 5 May 2025
  • Vivian Yin’s will contains an unpleasant surprise for her daughters.
    Ilana Masad, Los Angeles Times, 2 May 2025

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Cite this Entry

“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 23 May. 2025.

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