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bad 1 of 3

adjective

ˈbad How to pronounce bad (audio)
Definition of badnext
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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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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bad

2 of 3

adverb

as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way you didn't do too bad on the treadmill test

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bad

3 of 3

noun

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. 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
Dave Stieb of the Toronto Blue Jays, one strike from a no-hitter, gave up a bad-hop single to Julio Franco. — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 24 Sep. 2026 When rates climb at such a rapid pace, history tells them something bad tends to happen. — Sean Conlon, CNBC, 24 Sep. 2026
Adverb
Pull leftovers that still need to be eaten to the front, along with any foods that are going to go bad soon. — Sophia Beams, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2025 This can make your water smell bad, affect the taste, and could lead to illness. — Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 18 Nov. 2025
Noun
In times when the city's bad seems to overshadow the good, Daniels and others like him can be a guidepost for generations to come. — Sophia Tiedge, jsonline.com, 11 Sep. 2025 While working together on The Unit, David Mamet once told you that good drama isn’t a choice between good and bad; good drama is the choice between two bads. — Max Gao, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Jan. 2025 See All Example Sentences for bad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad
  1. unacceptable
  2. evil
  3. harmful
  4. naughty
  5. sad
  6. defective
  7. rotten
  8. unpleasant
Adjective
  • Laying an egg against the Raiders in Year 3 of the Harbaugh era is unacceptable.
    — Alejandro Avila OutKick, FOXNews.com, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Kip Dellinger Santa Monica The type of play by the Chargers on Sunday was completely unacceptable, lackluster and disappointing for a team with Super Bowl aspirations.
    — Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 19 Sep. 2026
Definition of unacceptable
Adjective
  • The correspondence helped convince Anders, who fled the Nazis for American exile in 1936, that different kinds of evil cause different kinds of harm.
    — Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 18 Sep. 2026
  • The destination of our hapless hero, a courier (Austin Abrams, absolutely awesome) who must transport an important package between medical facilities, is indeed the game’s residentially evil homebase of Racoon City.
    — David Fear, Rolling Stone, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of evil
Adjective
  • Harry is known for speaking out in high-profile campaigns about the harmful impact of technology on young people.
    — Sophie Tanno, CNN Money, 23 Sep. 2026
  • Too often, environmental advocates insist on the elimination of poaching, logging, and other harmful activities while remaining wholly unfamiliar with the factors at play that lead to predation, neglect, and abuse of nature.
    — Juliet Kinsman, Condé Nast Traveler, 22 Sep. 2026
Definition of harmful
Adjective
  • The film’s naughty, not-quite-PG side is perfectly exemplified by its titular hero.
    — Marta Balaga, Variety, 16 Sep. 2026
  • Romantic, criminal and naughty hijinks ensue and bonds are tested — and ultimately reinforced.
    — Katie Walsh, Los Angeles Times, 21 Aug. 2026
Definition of naughty
Adjective
  • In another bit of sad synchronicity, both the Raiders and Cardinals won just three games and fired their coaches last season.
    — Assistant Sports Editor, Los Angeles Times, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Murphy referred to Lucas’ death as one of the saddest days of his life.
    — Gabriel Burns, AJC.com, 20 Sep. 2026
Definition of sad
Adjective
  • His neurologist decided the best way to put an end to this would be to cut out the defective part of his brain.
    — Lizz Schumer, PEOPLE, 19 Sep. 2026
  • Improperly made or defective squishy toys can expose kids to lead, phthalates, and even asbestos.
    — Parents, Parents, 4 Sep. 2026
Definition of defective
Adjective
  • Previous Evil pics have been rotten on Rotten Tomatoes with critics.
    — Anthony D'Alessandro, Deadline, 16 Sep. 2026
  • If the produce’s skin is moldy, slimy, or rotten, it should be discarded regardless of type, as mold can penetrate beyond the visible surface.
    — Bridget Shirvell, Martha Stewart, 13 Sep. 2026
Definition of rotten
Adjective
  • For people without underlying risk factors, COVID infections are not outright dangerous but remain deeply unpleasant, Guest and Chin-Hong say.
    — Meghan Bartels, Scientific American, 21 Sep. 2026
  • Over time, the dog may start to associate the unpleasant noise with the barking and stop.
    — BestReviews, Chicago Tribune, 18 Sep. 2026
Definition of unpleasant

Phrases Containing bad

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backyards
bad
bad blood
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Cite this Entry

“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 27 Sep. 2026.

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