1
as in unacceptable
falling short of a standard
a bad first attempt at making meat loaf resulted in a soggy, inedible mess
Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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7
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
I think the milk has turned bad
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
you didn't do too bad on the treadmill test
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in wrong
that which is morally unacceptable
there's bad and good in people of every race and nationality
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
bad news
bad weather
bad luck
Examples Sentences
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Recent Examples of bad
Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 11 Dec. 2024
Residents, furious that more than 200 people died during Spain’s worst floods in decades, pelted them with mud.
—Micheline Maynard, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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
Joe George, Men's Health, 16 Feb. 2023
Then a new big bad entered the arena.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 15 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for bad 
Adjective
Jamie Foxx is the type of man who attracts a lot of attention, for better or worse.
—Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 11 Dec. 2024
Residents, furious that more than 200 people died during Spain’s worst floods in decades, pelted them with mud.
—Micheline Maynard, TIME, 11 Dec. 2024
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
Then a new big bad entered the arena.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 15 Apr. 2022
See all Example Sentences for bad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad
Adjective
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This time difference is unacceptable and the cause of many breaches.Austin Gadient, Forbes, 13 Dec. 2024
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The lack of information is absolutely unacceptable.Danielle Wallace, Fox News, 12 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Millions of people around the world celebrate the Persian festival of Yalda, which marks the sunrise after the longest night of the year, said to be the night evil forces held the most power.Mary Whitfill Roeloffs, Forbes, 18 Dec. 2024
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Much like 2014’s Ouija, a group of tedious teens unleash an evil entity haunting a specific set of tarot cards.Nicholas Bell, SPIN, 17 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Another growing problem is the use of harmful flame retardants in the plastic enclosures around batteries.Arlene Blum, Forbes, 8 Dec. 2024
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So these algorithms and this messaging is really harmful for kids' self-image.Dana Taylor, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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Krampus is rumored to punish children who have been naughty on the evening of Dec. 5, also known as Krampusnacht, by whipping them, eating them or dragging them to hell.Jennifer Borresen, USA TODAY, 13 Dec. 2024
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Sometimes plotting a fantasy feels as naughty as enacting it.Stephen Kearse, TIME, 9 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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However, sad to say, Gmail accounts remain a prime target for attackers of all sorts and understanding the threat is key to getting a grip on mitigating it.Davey Winder, Forbes, 16 Dec. 2024
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What kids gain from taking charge of their own feelings Having strong emotional regulation skills doesn’t mean kids won’t feel sad, angry, or frustrated — that’s part of being human.Amy Morin, Contributor, CNBC, 13 Dec. 2024
Adjective
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In a statement to Digital Trends, LG said the LED TVs, which weigh up to 101.2 pounds with stands, aren't defective on their own.Scharon Harding, Ars Technica, 13 Jan. 2023
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Jurors in Gwinnett County, northeast of Atlanta, returned the verdict in the years-long civil case involving what the plaintiffs’ lawyers called dangerously defective roofs on Ford pickup trucks, lawyer James Butler Jr. said.Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 22 Aug. 2022
Adjective
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Others rely on odor, such as predator urine, that frightens them away from the area or a bad smell from rotten eggs that simply discourages them.Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 29 Nov. 2024
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The two of them are on the world’s most rotten ship and must go down together.Brian Moylan, Vulture, 26 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The news, predictably, was unpleasant: the Olympic roster was about to leak, and Clark wasn’t on it.Sean Gregory, TIME, 10 Dec. 2024
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Almost everyone is bitter, unpleasant, scheming, self-centered, manipulative or awful (or just plain crazy).Erik Kain, Forbes, 10 Dec. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near bad
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 22 Dec. 2024.
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