1
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a bad first attempt at making meat loaf resulted in a soggy, inedible mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in evil
not conforming to a high moral standard; morally unacceptable
stealing is just plain bad
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3
as in harmful
causing or capable of causing harm
sitting too close to the television is said to be bad for the eyes
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4
as in naughty
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
the children were bad, so they didn't get dessert
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5
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad
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6
as in defective
having a fault
a bad video connection that is causing some picture loss
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7
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
I think the milk has turned bad
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8
as in unpleasant
not giving pleasure to the mind or senses
the air in the damp basement had a very bad smell
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9
as in terrible
of low quality
bad shoes that fell apart within a week
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10
as in poorly
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
I've been feeling bad all week with this cold
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11
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
as in malicious
slang
having or showing a desire to cause someone pain or suffering for the sheer enjoyment of it
with all of his tattoos and piercings, that skinhead looks like one really bad dude
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as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
you didn't do too bad on the treadmill test
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as in wrong
that which is morally unacceptable
there's bad and good in people of every race and nationality
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bad
Josh Yohe, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The Broncos went three-and-out on 25% of their possessions, fourth worst.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
That started off bad and got better.
—Vulture, 21 Feb. 2023
Mellissa Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023
Good drama is the choice between two bads.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for bad
Adjective
The Rangers are astonishingly bad right now and did the Penguins a favor by sitting Artemi Panarin out.
—Josh Yohe, New York Times, 1 Feb. 2026
The Broncos went three-and-out on 25% of their possessions, fourth worst.
—Troy Renck, Denver Post, 1 Feb. 2026
Adverb
Remember, too much of a good thing can turn bad quickly!
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
That started off bad and got better.
—Vulture, 21 Feb. 2023
Noun
Despite the obvious bad, there was undeniable good.
—Mellissa Martinez, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2023
Good drama is the choice between two bads.
—Hunter Ingram, Variety, 23 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for bad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad
Adjective
-
Antisemitism has no place in our city, and violence or intimidation against Jewish New Yorkers is unacceptable.—
Landon Mion,
FOXNews.com,
29 Jan. 2026
-
These actions, coupled with her own words, reveal an unacceptable disdain for our constitutional system of checks and balances.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
There are several elements in Bridgerton season 4 that resemble the story line of Cinderella, from enchanting balls to gloves and slippers — and even an evil stepmother.—
Jordana Comiter,
PEOPLE,
31 Jan. 2026
-
The details in the Russian collusion hoax file is demonic—this is evil stuff.—
,
FOXNews.com,
30 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
While skepticism toward artificial intelligence is understandable, dismissing AI as inherently harmful overlooks both history and reality.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
27 Jan. 2026
-
Regulators will examine whether Grok is living up to its obligations under the Digital Services Act, the bloc’s wide-ranging rulebook for keeping internet users safe from harmful content and products.—
Kelvin Chan,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
A little naughty, a little nice, kitten heels offer nine-to-five wear in polished yet practical form.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
-
More like raw, bold, and sometimes a little naughty.—
Michael Schneider,
Variety,
15 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
The same sad and sinister menace occupying 1600 Penn.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
29 Jan. 2026
-
Of course, after a while the thrill of getting caught fades, and sneaking around becomes deeply sad rather than sexy.—
Sam Reed,
Glamour,
29 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Todorovich is focusing on enterprise-wide business models but is not placing buys or negotiating return to vendors involving returning defective, damaged or unsold merchandise back to the supplier or manufacturer.—
David Moin,
Footwear News,
23 Jan. 2026
-
The partnership unraveled in 2007 over what MacNeil alleged were defective mats.—
Monica Hunter-Hart,
Forbes.com,
21 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Fruit flies will still find rotten food thrown in the trash and drink cans that still contain liquid, so keep a lid on the bins for extra protection.—
Emma Ashe,
Southern Living,
30 Jan. 2026
-
Thick ice is rotten after rain.—
Katie Wiseman,
IndyStar,
27 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
Over time, ice can absorb unpleasant odors from the freezer.—
Olivia McIntosh,
Martha Stewart,
31 Jan. 2026
-
Hair shedding, rashes, dark spots, night sweats, and other unpleasant changes on top of taking care of a new baby (and sleep deprivation) are a lot to deal with.—
Alex Vance,
Parents,
29 Jan. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 3 Feb. 2026.
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