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
Say your prayers that Grier makes an 11th-hour trade for an offensive tackle, signs a decent veteran whose salary was too high for another team’s taste, and/or claims someone with upside off the waiver wire because reinforcements are badly needed.
—
Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Then again, no one could've seen Purdy coming as a huge diamond in the rough just when the team badly needed one under center.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
The surprise is that the Niners needed him so badly this close to the season opener.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025
After making his first kick from 30 yards, Moody missed the 53-yarder badly to the left.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for badly
Miami Herald, 24 Aug. 2025
Then again, no one could've seen Purdy coming as a huge diamond in the rough just when the team badly needed one under center.
—Robert Marvi, MSNBC Newsweek, 23 Aug. 2025
The surprise is that the Niners needed him so badly this close to the season opener.
—Dieter Kurtenbach, Mercury News, 22 Aug. 2025
After making his first kick from 30 yards, Moody missed the 53-yarder badly to the left.
—Jerry McDonald, Mercury News, 16 Aug. 2025
See All Example Sentences for badly
Recent Examples of Synonyms for badly
Adverb
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The data landscape across health plans and providers remains poorly integrated, fragmented across dozens of legacy systems and software vendors.—
Charles Wong,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Wet, soggy soil and soil like clay that’s heavy or poorly draining can lead to root rot.—
Karen Brewer Grossman,
Southern Living,
28 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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But something went terribly wrong when, about nine years ago, David was out on a mission ordered by Juno: and he and his team were ambushed.—
Demetrius Patterson,
HollywoodReporter,
18 Aug. 2025
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But dashing from one building to another for meetings wasn’t a terribly efficient way of working.—
Dana Thomas,
Architectural Digest,
18 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Remember, too much of a good thing can turn bad quickly!—
Amber Smith,
Discover Magazine,
3 Apr. 2024
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That started off bad and got better.—
Vulture,
Vulture,
21 Feb. 2023
Adverb
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Dern’s casting as Hank's mom was extremely meaningful to Butler, whose mother Lori died of cancer in 2014.—
Patrick Ryan,
USA Today,
31 Aug. 2025
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Having a healthy Parsons ready to rock for the team's matchup against the Lions will be extremely important.—
Evan Massey,
MSNBC Newsweek,
30 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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There will also be fun for the kids in their very own Kids Fun Zone.—
Caroline Ritzie,
The Enquirer,
31 Aug. 2025
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Except for very special occasions, videos longer than a few seconds are much less likely to be re-watched or shared.—
Paul Monckton,
Forbes.com,
31 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Photo: Levi Kelly A house this small needs to be incredibly efficient.—
Levi Kelly,
CNBC,
24 Aug. 2025
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Short n’ Sweet, but anticipation for her next project is incredibly high.—
Hugh McIntyre,
Forbes.com,
24 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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But this preseason, the circumstances that so often befell a roster already too thin to begin with didn’t manifest themselves for a change.—
Howard Megdal,
Forbes.com,
29 Aug. 2025
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Cases have been reported in coastal areas on Cape Cod, Maine and Long Island, New York, too.—
Karissa Waddick,
USA Today,
29 Aug. 2025
Adverb
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Along with affordable exotics, young collectors are also paying up for supercars, especially rare and highly specific Paganis, Bugattis and Rufs, the boutique German builder.—
Robert Frank,
CNBC,
14 Aug. 2025
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Its diverse gastronomic offerings are also a hit with young people; 95% rated the food scene highly.—
Maureen O'Hare,
CNN Money,
14 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“Badly.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/badly. Accessed 3 Sep. 2025.
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