1
as in poorly
in an unsatisfactory way
I'm afraid you performed quite badly in our last rehearsal
Synonyms & Similar Words
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
2
as in terribly
to a great degree
blood donors are badly needed this time of year
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Example Sentences
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Recent Examples of badly
State officials particularly have focused on improving investment returns since a May 2023 report from Yale University researchers found Connecticut’s results badly lagged the nation’s over the prior decade.
—
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Members who behaved badly prior to that do not deserve anonymity.
—Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The Dolphins, who badly needed a quarterback, snagged the one who ESPN’s Adam Schefter said was widely regarded, by NFL teams, as the best among those scheduled to be unrestricted free agents.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
The Heat are the one team with no obvious direction if things go badly these next six weeks.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for badly
Keith M. Phaneuf, Hartford Courant, 11 Mar. 2026
Members who behaved badly prior to that do not deserve anonymity.
—Robin Abcarian, Mercury News, 11 Mar. 2026
The Dolphins, who badly needed a quarterback, snagged the one who ESPN’s Adam Schefter said was widely regarded, by NFL teams, as the best among those scheduled to be unrestricted free agents.
—Barry Jackson, Miami Herald, 10 Mar. 2026
The Heat are the one team with no obvious direction if things go badly these next six weeks.
—Tony Jones, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for badly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badly
Adverb
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Critics argue this work is extractive and poorly compensated, especially when these AI systems are being trained to ultimately replace human labor.—
Los Angeles Times,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2026
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Unnatural results often occur when treatments are excessive or poorly planned.—
Carlos Wolf,
Miami Herald,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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In a world gone terribly wrong and sideways, humanity survives.—
Chris Gardner,
HollywoodReporter,
7 Mar. 2026
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If that version of the fable hasn’t aged terribly well, an item in The Wall Street Journal this week elicited a few nervous squeals from some the NFL’s TV partners.—
Anthony Crupi,
Sportico.com,
6 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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There were no debates involved, no refs called in, no bad-mouthing.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
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The dialogue sometimes lapses from bad-funny to just bad.—
Judy Berman,
Time,
21 Jan. 2026
Adverb
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Now the molecule was DMT, which causes an extremely intense but relatively short trip.—
Clayton Dalton,
New Yorker,
13 Mar. 2026
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The researchers also say the laser could benefit industries that depend on nanoelectronics, including semiconductor manufacturing, by helping engineers detect extremely small defects in chips.—
Neetika Walter,
Interesting Engineering,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Physicists hunting for new superconductors often look for a very specific shape hidden in their data—a dome.—
Rupendra Brahambhatt,
Interesting Engineering,
8 Mar. 2026
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Now, both teams head to the Big Ten tournament with opposite momentum and very different stakes, though any number of wins for UCLA can’t hurt its seeding come Selection Sunday.—
Sean Campbell,
Los Angeles Times,
8 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Menus were incredibly thoughtful, comfortably dancing the line between familiar, Western fare and regional dishes.—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
11 Mar. 2026
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Quick, easy, and incredibly satisfying.—
Nina Moskowitz,
Bon Appetit Magazine,
10 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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That goes for basketball and football camps, too.—
Arkansas Online,
Arkansas Online,
12 Mar. 2026
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The spacious patio—which features its own garden—is a major plus, too.—
Payton Turkeltaub,
Vogue,
12 Mar. 2026
Adverb
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Mahan clarified that severely treatment-resistant homeless people would receive help in a medical setting.—
Rafael Perez,
Oc Register,
8 Mar. 2026
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Placing the franchise tag on tight end Kyle Pitts severely handcuffs what the Falcons can do this offseason.—
Omar Kelly
March 8,
Miami Herald,
8 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Badly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badly. Accessed 15 Mar. 2026.
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