1
as in poorly
in an unsatisfactory way
I'm afraid you performed quite badly in our last rehearsal
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
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
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 badly
Ruf badly cut his knee and limped off the field with the help of a trainer.
—
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
Schenn was unlucky to be outscored quite that badly given Winnipeg had 48 percent of shot attempts with him on the ice, but his performance was not superior to that of third-pairing alternative Colin Miller.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Throughout my entire pregnancy, my mom treated me badly.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
That is a big part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: people of low character behaving badly.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for badly
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 22 May 2025
Schenn was unlucky to be outscored quite that badly given Winnipeg had 48 percent of shot attempts with him on the ice, but his performance was not superior to that of third-pairing alternative Colin Miller.
—Murat Ates, New York Times, 21 May 2025
Throughout my entire pregnancy, my mom treated me badly.
—Harriette Cole, Mercury News, 21 May 2025
That is a big part of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame: people of low character behaving badly.
—Jason Newman, Rolling Stone, 10 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for badly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badly
Adverb
-
In the United States, conditions like type 2 diabetes, hypertension and high cholesterol are manageable, yet remain poorly controlled in more than a third of patients.—
Robert Pearl,
Forbes.com,
26 May 2025
-
The plain version of the chips got a high score, while the other, with a tequila lime flavoring, scored poorly.—
Maria Godoy,
NPR,
26 May 2025
Adverb
-
That number is not terribly surprising, given that the La Mesa medical facility treated the 10th-most acute strokes in the state and handled the largest volume in San Diego County in 2023, according to state data.—
Paul Sisson,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
19 May 2025
-
The wine list is strikingly good and (also strikingly) not terribly expensive.—
Helen Rosner,
New Yorker,
18 May 2025
Adverb
-
Remember, too much of a good thing can turn bad quickly!—
Amber Smith,
Discover Magazine,
3 Apr. 2024
-
That started off bad and got better.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2023
Adverb
-
With extremely long battery life, this is a productivity portable that will get you through an entire day on the go, and the keyboard is a pleasure to use.—
K. Thor Jensen,
PC Magazine,
27 May 2025
-
Continuing with her streak of daring silhouettes, the performer took the stage in a black textured jumpsuit with a completely open back that sat extremely low on her hips.—
Rachel Flynn,
People.com,
27 May 2025
Adverb
-
Every department, every person in the show, every actor is just bringing it to the very last take to the very last minute.—
EW.com,
EW.com,
27 May 2025
-
As attention shifts to the Senate, where Republicans leaders are hoping to pass a bill by July 4th, some Wall Street analysts are predicting that the markets will force a change of course—a scenario for which there is a very recent precedent.—
John Cassidy,
New Yorker,
26 May 2025
Adverb
-
As incredibly fast as that is, space is incredibly spread out.—
Jarred Roberts,
The Conversation,
20 May 2025
-
Like its younger sibling, the whiskey has an incredibly broad aroma, encompassing fresh and dried tropical and orchard fruits, nuts, caramel or butterscotch, and vanilla.—
Joseph V Micallef,
Forbes.com,
20 May 2025
Adverb
-
Other Barriers Other psychological barriers exist too.—
Marshall Shepherd,
Forbes.com,
24 May 2025
-
Olusanya said waiting for people to come back in for medical care on their own felt like too great a risk, given how quickly their conditions could deteriorate.—
Melissa Gomez,
Los Angeles Times,
24 May 2025
Adverb
-
Over six months of use, this duvet cover proved highly durable, especially for pet owners.—
Carrie Honaker,
Southern Living,
22 May 2025
-
They have been specifically developed to counter America’s highly advanced missile defense systems such as the Patriot and the National Advanced Surface-to-Air Missile System.—
Iain Boyd,
The Conversation,
22 May 2025
Cite this Entry
“Badly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badly. Accessed 30 May. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share