Synonyms of bad
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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1
2
as in dangerous
causing or capable of causing harm
one of the ill effects of winter weather is the rapid spread of germs as people spend more time together indoors
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3
as in bad
temporarily suffering from a disorder of the body
since I'm ill, I guess that I'll just have to miss that dental appointment
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4
as in poor
falling short of a standard
such ill behavior will not be tolerated
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5
as in ominous
being or showing a sign of evil or calamity to come
the abrupt breakdown of negotiations appears to be an ill omen for this ongoing hostage situation
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Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bad
Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 June 2026
Ahead, an animal rescuer shares what to look for when determining if the baby squirrels are truly orphaned or injured and how to help without making the situation worse.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Voters rejected a state ballot proposal in 1998 to legalize the prescription of lethal medication to help terminally ill, competent, informed adults commit suicide in Michigan, with 71% voting against the initiative.
—CBS News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bad
Adjective
Unfortunately, Masters of the Universe is part of this bad trend of old 1980s properties, which are getting revived now, that aren’t working at the box office post Tron Ares and Running Man.
—Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 7 June 2026
Ahead, an animal rescuer shares what to look for when determining if the baby squirrels are truly orphaned or injured and how to help without making the situation worse.
—Michelle Mastro, Martha Stewart, 7 June 2026
Adjective
At least two dozen hikers have fallen ill along the trail near Wrightwood in the San Gabriel Mountains of San Bernardino County over the last two weeks, according to the Victorville Daily Press, part of the USA TODAY Network, resulting in at least one air rescue.
—Mary Walrath-Holdridge, USA Today, 29 May 2026
Voters rejected a state ballot proposal in 1998 to legalize the prescription of lethal medication to help terminally ill, competent, informed adults commit suicide in Michigan, with 71% voting against the initiative.
—CBS News, 28 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for bad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad
Adjective
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The third strand of anti-vaccine advocacy, that compelling vaccine use is unacceptable, is a philosophical claim, not one of fact.—
Literary Hub,
Literary Hub,
11 June 2026
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There is, of course, Itaewon, which is historically more associated with foreigners and other outsiders, where all who are deemed unacceptable are accepted.—
Anton Hur,
Condé Nast Traveler,
10 June 2026
Adjective
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After the evil Skeletor (Jared Leto) snatches his parents, Adam is plucked out of Eternia and returns years later from the human world to assume his true identity as He-Man and save the planet.—
Matt Minton,
Variety,
6 June 2026
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Young Prince Adam of Eternia (Nicholas Galitzine) is sent to Earth to protect him from the evil and hilarious Skeletor (Jared Leto), who now rules Eternia.—
Mike Ryan,
IndieWire,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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In the layer of the upper atmosphere called the stratosphere, the gas creates a protective layer that shields Earthlings from harmful ultraviolet rays.—
Jeanna Bryner,
Scientific American,
8 June 2026
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The data center near Quindaro doesn’t have the capacity to be as harmful as the center out west, and the impacts of having a data center in Quindaro wouldn’t equate to the same health risks as having a coal plant did, Gorman said.—
Sofi Zeman
June 8,
Kansas City Star,
8 June 2026
Adjective
-
The play was naughty stuff in 1925, when the show, starring Tallulah Bankhead, got banned.—
Sheldon Pearce,
New Yorker,
15 May 2026
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But theatergoers around me couldn’t seem to get enough, no matter how repetitive the naughty humor became.—
Theater Critic,
Los Angeles Times,
1 May 2026
Adjective
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The other six ascended to the highest office in the land as a result of the dysfunction that has made Peru a punch line in political-science circles, a sad story of ungovernability played on a loop.—
Daniel Alarcón,
New Yorker,
4 June 2026
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There’s a one-note quality to the film’s comedy that grows steadily, even deliberately, more abrasive over two hours, but the sad, brash, gradually shrinking bigness of the personalities at its center holds your attention.—
Guy Lodge,
Variety,
4 June 2026
Adjective
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The defect is specific to 2027 Kia Telluride and Kia Telluride Hybrid models, and no other Kia or Kia Telluride vehicles are equipped with the defective retractor.—
Amaris Encinas,
USA Today,
8 June 2026
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Dealers will inspect and repair the defective parts free of charge, according to the recall notice.—
Mary Cunningham,
CBS News,
3 June 2026
Adjective
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Anyone on the market for a new house over the past six years has had rotten luck.—
Tristan Bove,
Fortune,
29 May 2026
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Advocates say the rotten food and lack of basic medical care is so bad some detainees are even on a hunger strike.—
Nick Caloway,
CBS News,
27 May 2026
Adjective
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Toussaint, a Black British actor, also addressed unpleasant early backlash against his casting from internet trolls.—
Jesse Whittock,
Deadline,
4 June 2026
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No, the most unpleasant part of descending into New York City's vast sewer system, according to former urban explorer Steve Duncan, was the cockroaches.—
ABC News,
ABC News,
4 June 2026
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 12 Jun. 2026.
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