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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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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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
Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Dogs can create traffic jams, cause (or worse, have) accidents in narrow aisles, and disrupt delicate plants on display.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
Remember, too much of a good thing can turn bad quickly!
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
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 Saturday launch attempt scrubbed under a minute before liftoff because of bad weather in the booster recovery area.
—Richard Tribou, The Orlando Sentinel, 22 Feb. 2026
Dogs can create traffic jams, cause (or worse, have) accidents in narrow aisles, and disrupt delicate plants on display.
—Mary Catherine McAnnally Scott, Southern Living, 22 Feb. 2026
Adverb
This can make your water smell bad, affect the taste, and could lead to illness.
—Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
Remember, too much of a good thing can turn bad quickly!
—Amber Smith, Discover Magazine, 3 Apr. 2024
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
-
The behavior's unacceptable, and so this is our way to try to end it or stop it, at least here in Manteca.—
Charlie Lapastora,
CBS News,
18 Feb. 2026
-
That is completely unacceptable.—
Howard Blume,
Los Angeles Times,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Newcomers to the popular franchise are Greta Lee as the evil Lilypad game tablet and Conan O'Brien playing a hilarious potty training toy called Smarty Pants.—
Jeff Spry,
Space.com,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Some cities in China have banned fireworks out of concerns over safety and air pollution, but the measures are controversial as firecrackers, traditionally used to scare off evil spirits, remain central to Lunar New Year celebrations.—
Reuters,
NBC news,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
And some types of glyphosates may be more harmful than others.—
Michal Ruprecht,
CNN Money,
24 Feb. 2026
-
In addition to its harmful systemic effects, consuming alcoholic beverages is linked with the loss of dietary restraint and overconsumption of calories.—
Anna Giorgi,
Verywell Health,
23 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Your little girl was a little -- your littlest girl was a little naughty.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
8 Feb. 2026
-
A little naughty, a little nice, kitten heels offer nine-to-five wear in polished yet practical form.—
Andrea Zendejas,
Vogue,
22 Jan. 2026
Adjective
-
To many, this is a sad, depressing thought.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
20 Feb. 2026
-
Shortly after the film begins, Jago returns home from the war alone with the sad news that Seamus has been killed.—
Frank Scheck,
HollywoodReporter,
19 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Tesla blamed driver for striking victims In seeking a reversal, Tesla said McGee deserved sole blame, his Model S wasn't defective, and the verdict defied common sense.—
Jonathan Stempel,
USA Today,
20 Feb. 2026
-
But in recent years, plaintiffs' lawyers have employed a novel legal tactic to get around Section 230 by bringing cases against social media companies under product liability laws akin to a manufacturer sued over a defective product.—
Bobby Allyn,
NPR,
18 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Reviews not so good right now at 57% rotten on Rotten Tomatoes.—
Anthony D'Alessandro,
Deadline,
18 Feb. 2026
-
The beams holding up the room were rotten, and had to be replaced or the room was eventually going to give way underneath.—
Molly Morrow,
Chicago Tribune,
16 Feb. 2026
Adjective
-
Besides preventing mold and mildew, cleaning will also taper unpleasant odors and prevent cracking and crumbling of your seal.—
Caroline Lubinsky,
Martha Stewart,
21 Feb. 2026
-
By washing white rice, the excess starch is washed off, as well as any oxidized rice bran oil coating the outside, which can add an unpleasant flavor to the cooked rice.—
Kaitlyn Yarborough,
Southern Living,
21 Feb. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 25 Feb. 2026.
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