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
If the Iran war goes badly, the isolationist, anti-Israel wing of the party is likely to steer the GOP’s future.
—
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Trump has said that the repairs are badly needed, with deterioration including water leaks and damage, as well as an aging HVAC system.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
The facade of an apartment building next to it was badly damaged, and cars in the surrounding area were crushed.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Johnston thinks the administration badly misread the situation from the start.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for badly
Jonathan Chait, The Atlantic, 25 Mar. 2026
Trump has said that the repairs are badly needed, with deterioration including water leaks and damage, as well as an aging HVAC system.
—Ted Johnson, Deadline, 25 Mar. 2026
The facade of an apartment building next to it was badly damaged, and cars in the surrounding area were crushed.
—Npr Staff, NPR, 24 Mar. 2026
Johnston thinks the administration badly misread the situation from the start.
—Eva Roytburg, Fortune, 24 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for badly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badly
Adverb
-
Davis did himself no favors with anyone with that performance, which anyone with an extensive TV background (which Davis has) should have known would play poorly on a nationwide scale.—
Scott Fowler,
Charlotte Observer,
25 Mar. 2026
-
The camp is isolated and poorly resourced, and its traditions—including its conception of gender roles—can be painfully rigid.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
25 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Had something gone terribly, terribly wrong?—
Condé Nast,
Condé Nast Traveler,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Something is terribly wrong in Chicago.—
Chicago Tribune,
Chicago Tribune,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Of course, Hole himself isn’t averse to breaking bad, either.—
Jon O'Brien,
IndieWire,
23 Mar. 2026
-
There were no debates involved, no refs called in, no bad-mouthing.—
Julia Frankel,
Chicago Tribune,
9 Feb. 2026
Adverb
-
The particles that make up these dark nebulae are of a finite size, and that size is extremely good at absorbing visible light.—
Big Think,
Big Think,
26 Mar. 2026
-
David’s view The voters most keen to talk with political reporters are, typically, extremely engaged in politics.—
David Weigel,
semafor.com,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Although winds will be mostly light, between 5 and 10 mph, the dry air combined with very dry vegetation will result in a continuation of elevated fire danger.—
NC Weather Bot,
Charlotte Observer,
29 Mar. 2026
-
Bartle may have been right, but for some Chiefs fans and stadium developers with billions of public dollars at stake, that state line probably feels very real.—
Elijah Winkler,
Kansas City Star,
29 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
Our aviation system is incredibly safe because there are multiple, multiple layers of defense built in to prevent an accident.—
Jeff Capellini,
CBS News,
24 Mar. 2026
-
Herbs like basil, mint, and parsley are incredibly easy to grow and add fresh flavor to your meals.—
Lauren Jarvis-Gibson,
Charlotte Observer,
24 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The war has upended the travel industry, too, with forecasters estimating airfares — which have jumped sixfold on some routes — will remain high for months.—
Jeronimo Gonzalez,
semafor.com,
26 Mar. 2026
-
Democrats are laying the groundwork to oppose a photo ID bill Republicans will bring to the Senate floor Thursday, arguing that voting laws are best left to the states or that the legislation before them is too restrictive.—
David Sivak,
The Washington Examiner,
26 Mar. 2026
Adverb
-
The fire spread rapidly to nearby cars, leaving several vehicles severely burned.—
CBS News Atlanta Staff,
CBS News,
22 Mar. 2026
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The Israeli military said about 180 people had been injured, some severely.—
NPR Staff,
NPR,
22 Mar. 2026
Cite this Entry
“Badly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badly. Accessed 29 Mar. 2026.
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