bad 1 of 6

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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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as in sad
feeling unhappiness hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad

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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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bad

2 of 6

adverb (1)

bad

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noun (1)

ill

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adjective (2)

1
as in sick
affected with nausea she grew ill from the constant rocking motion of the boat

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as in poor
falling short of a standard such ill behavior will not be tolerated

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ill

5 of 6

adverb (2)

ill

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noun (2)

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bad news
awful news
bad weather
poor weather
awful weather
terrible weather
nasty weather
unfavorable weather
bad luck
rotten luck
lousy luck
a bad idea
a foolish idea
a dangerous idea
a poor idea
an unwise idea
an awful idea
bad behavior
malicious behavior
naughty behavior
poor behavior
terrible behavior
awful behavior

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
But others are, at best, psychological signposts and, at worst, internet inside-jokes. Melissa Fleur Afshar, MSNBC Newsweek, 28 June 2025 In your garden, stink bugs can be a real bad problem... Steve Bender, Southern Living, 28 June 2025
Adverb
Ignoring one of them can lead you to bad-looking maps no one would prefer. J. Richard Gott, Scientific American, 17 Feb. 2021 The researchers think that by expelling their bad-tasting innards when fish are nibbling nearby, sea squirts may drive the fish away. Elizabeth Preston, Discover Magazine, 26 June 2015
Noun
In the Avenge the Earth storyline, those big bads included Apocalypse, the first mutant, and, of course, Kang the Conqueror. Joe George, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023 So what was the rationale behind introducing our new big bad in the exact opposite way? Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2023
Adjective
Wen: Extreme heat can affect everyone, but there are three groups of people who are the most susceptible to its ill effects. Katia Hetter, CNN Money, 19 June 2025 Any lingering ill feelings Marchand had with Florida players (or vice versa) were quickly buried. Adam Lichtenstein, Sun Sentinel, 19 June 2025
Adverb
Another, a soldier, described a military communications battalion in which more than half the unit – about 400 soldiers – fell ill by late 2021. Will Ripley, CNN Money, 18 June 2025 The listeria strain tied to the outbreak has been detected in people who fell ill between July 24 and May 10, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported. Jonel Aleccia, Chicago Tribune, 18 June 2025
Noun
In the early 1900s, journalism, the muckrakers, became highly influential, raising awareness about many social ills, including child labor, unsafe working conditions and unsanitary food processing. Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 2 June 2025 But the strikes of 2023 that delayed releases slated for 2024 were never the only ills plaguing the entertainment sector. Judy Berman, Time, 3 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for bad

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Cite this Entry

“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 10 Jul. 2025.

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