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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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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
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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
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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
bad news
bad weather
bad luck
Examples Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
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Recent Examples of bad
Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
Even at its worst, though, Smallville remained a crucial stepping stone for everything that came after it.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 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
Peter Rubin, Longreads, 15 Apr. 2022
So what was the rationale behind introducing our new big bad in the exact opposite way?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bad 
Adjective
There’s little incentive to refrain from misbehaving in an environment that tolerates bad behavior, said Lewis Morris, who was chief counsel to HHS’ Office of Inspector General from 2002 to 2012.
—Peter Elkind, ProPublica, 13 Nov. 2024
Even at its worst, though, Smallville remained a crucial stepping stone for everything that came after it.
—Joshua Rivera, Vulture, 13 Nov. 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
Then a new big bad entered the arena.
—Peter Rubin, Longreads, 15 Apr. 2022
So what was the rationale behind introducing our new big bad in the exact opposite way?
—Brian Davids, The Hollywood Reporter, 24 Feb. 2023
See all Example Sentences for bad
Recent Examples of Synonyms for bad
Adjective
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And there's a lengthy list of unacceptable offenses that can get people ejected or even banned from venues.Felecia Wellington Radel, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024
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Zelenskyy expressed concern over potential pressure on Ukraine should Donald Trump win the presidency, stating that any attempt to force it to surrender its territories would be unacceptable.Katya Soldak, Forbes, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Here's why At one point he’s basically indentured to almost comically evil thieves, who force him to crawl through small spaces in the rubble to steal for them.Bill Goodykoontz, The Arizona Republic, 5 Nov. 2024
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The big difference between this show and that film is that there’s more than one body-hopping alien to contend with, and not all of them are evil.Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Working out prior to menopause will reduce the risk of osteoporosis in your later years. And avoid harmful habits – smoking and heavy alcohol consumption can weaken bone density and increase the risk of fractures.Jianying Zhang, Discover Magazine, 8 Nov. 2024
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Albanese cited the risks to the physical and mental health of children from excessive social media use, in particular the risks to girls from harmful depictions of body image and misogynist content aimed at boys.Reuters, NBC News, 7 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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My sense is that people infatuated with this tinpot Marxist analysis enjoy the rush of feeling like the naughty provocateur without paying any real price for transgression.Lily Burana, Rolling Stone, 4 Nov. 2024
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Perfect for those naughty and nice, vacation destinations throughout the world are offering guests a holiday extravaganza designed to entertain and amaze.Roger Sands, Forbes, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Maybe not the question to ask a Canadian, but could sad smoke breaks bring America together today?Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
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On a night that's traditionally associated with mischief, the sad reality is that some people take things too far.Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 5 Nov. 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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At least Kristi and Mari could be there to keep an eye on her, instead of just letting her fend for herself near all that juicy, rotten produce.Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Nov. 2024
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The big picture: The city's Solid Waste Management Department will accept rotten jack-o'-lantern carcasses and other pumpkin remnants today through Dec. 6 — a longer window than in past years.Shafaq Patel, Axios, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Her pregnancies are painful and unpleasant, especially compared to Lenù’s.Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
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One way to avoid unpleasant surprises is to keep your restaurant order simple.Sarah Garone, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Nov. 2024
Thesaurus Entries Near bad
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 23 Nov. 2024.
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