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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Recent Examples of bad
Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Now there's a lot of bad evidence that came out with respect to violence and drug use.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2022
However, employees can’t be completely reckless on social media, making untrue or maliciously disparaging statements, or bad-mouthing their employer with broad-stroke commentary.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2022
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
Some will opt for less generous plans that have higher deductibles and out-of-pocket costs, which can discourage seeking care and lead to worse health.
—Jasmine Laws, MSNBC Newsweek, 2 Oct. 2025
Now there's a lot of bad evidence that came out with respect to violence and drug use.
—Christine Pelisek, PEOPLE, 2 Oct. 2025
Adverb
After an online Twitter feud where CZ accused SBF of allegedly bad-mouthing him to regulators, the Binance CEO announced on Sunday the company would be dumping all of its holdings of FTT, a token used by FTX customers.
—Tristan Bove, Fortune, 11 Nov. 2022
However, employees can’t be completely reckless on social media, making untrue or maliciously disparaging statements, or bad-mouthing their employer with broad-stroke commentary.
—Johnny C. Taylor Jr., USA TODAY, 8 Nov. 2022
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
-
This is an unacceptable physical and emotional power dynamic, even in a fantasy.—
USA Today,
USA Today,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Anything less than the protection of creators and their rights is unacceptable.—
Erik Hayden,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The evil White Vision regains all of his previous memories and flies off by himself.—
Jordan Moreau,
Variety,
11 Oct. 2025
-
Then the evil grin loses its enthusiasm, gradually working its way to a toothless pucker.—
Brandee Gruener,
Southern Living,
11 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Back in August, OpenAI published an update to ChatGPT with stronger controls on the bot’s responses to certain conversational topics amid mounting concern that some users are building harmful emotional attachments to chatbots.—
Jack Guy,
CNN Money,
15 Oct. 2025
-
This proposal, Pudelski believes, could be the most harmful for schools and educators.—
Sequoia Carrillo,
NPR,
15 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
The naughty list People walk past the Macy’s Herald Square flagship store on November 29, 2024 in New York City.—
Alex Harring,
CNBC,
6 Oct. 2025
-
Clementine’s is also known for its naughty (boozy) and nice (booze-free) flavors.—
Jenna Thompson,
Kansas City Star,
24 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
How’s this for a sad old country tune?—
Aaron Portzline,
New York Times,
10 Oct. 2025
-
The results were a shock to the family, but one that was tinged with a sad realization.—
Jack Beresford,
MSNBC Newsweek,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
People with too few or defective Treg cells often develop autoimmune diseases, where unchecked immune cells mistakenly attack the body’s own tissues or organs.—
Mitzi Nagarkatti,
The Conversation,
10 Oct. 2025
-
Consumers can return defective products to the retailer of purchase for a full refund.—
Moná Thomas,
PEOPLE,
10 Oct. 2025
Adjective
-
Lit candles, images on paper and a plaster statue of the folk saint Gauchito Gil, flowers in green plastic bottles, simple bouquets of jasmine floating in rotten water inside coffee cans, a lot of plastic flowers to keep the place colorful.—
Mariana Enriquez
October 2,
Literary Hub,
2 Oct. 2025
-
The Karen Read case exposed just how rotten the Bay State justice system can be.—
Boston Herald editorial staff,
Boston Herald,
29 Sep. 2025
Adjective
-
Playing a French player at Roland Garros is usually one of the more unpleasant tasks in tennis, given how rowdy the crowd can get when rooting for one of their own on Court Philippe-Chatrier.—
Matthew Futterman,
New York Times,
11 Oct. 2025
-
But for all of those unpleasant aspects, the series’ ultimate concentration is on the Marines as a worthy organization devoted to helping mostly young men learn discipline, honor and the proper mechanics for a pull-up.—
Daniel Fienberg,
HollywoodReporter,
9 Oct. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 18 Oct. 2025.
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