Synonyms of bad
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as in unacceptable 
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as in evil
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as in harmful
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as in naughty
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as in sad
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as in defective
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as in rotten
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as in unpleasant
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as in terrible
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as in poorly
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as in null
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as in malicious
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as in sick
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as in dangerous
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as in bad
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as in poor
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as in ominous
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as in badly
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as in severely
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as in no
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as in wrong
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as in disease
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as in badness
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as in misfortune
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Try This Instead
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Example Sentences
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Phrases Containing
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Related Articles
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Entries Near
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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as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
you didn't do too bad on the treadmill test
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as in wrong
that which is morally unacceptable
there's bad and good in people of every race and nationality
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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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as in severely
in a manner so as to cause loss or suffering
in those days society treated debtors very ill, even going so far as to put them in prison
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2
as in no
certainly not
you can ill afford to miss another day of work
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1
as in disease
an abnormal state that disrupts a plant's or animal's normal bodily functioning
chicken pox and the other ills that were once a fixture of childhood
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2
as in badness
that which is morally unacceptable
idealistic people who try to cure all of our society's ills
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3
as in misfortune
bad luck or an example of this
the travelers merrily set off on their journey, scarcely imagining the ills that would befall them
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Try This Instead
Try This InsteadFor
Try This
bad news
bad weather
bad luck
Examples Sentences
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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
Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
McDonald's has resumed sales of its famed Quarter Pounder burgers in all of its US restaurants after an E. coli outbreak left at least one person dead and dozens of others ill.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 28 Oct. 2024
Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
Most of those who fell ill reported eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald's, and investigators are working to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated, according to the CDC.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 23 Oct. 2024
Jamelle Bouie, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Many blame it for widening inequality, the loss of manufacturing jobs and a host of related social ills.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Sep. 2024
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
Adjective
Advertisement Most people reported eating a McDonald’s Quarter Pounder prior to becoming ill, and the Food and Drug Administration focused its investigation on the burger’s beef patties and slivered onions, according to the CDC.
—Clara Harter, Los Angeles Times, 28 Oct. 2024
McDonald's has resumed sales of its famed Quarter Pounder burgers in all of its US restaurants after an E. coli outbreak left at least one person dead and dozens of others ill.
—Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week Uk, theweek, 28 Oct. 2024
Adverb
Everyone interviewed in connection with the outbreak had reported eating at McDonald’s before falling ill and most mentioned eating Quarter Pounder hamburgers, the CDC said.
—Sasha Rogelberg, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2024
Most of those who fell ill reported eating Quarter Pounders from McDonald's, and investigators are working to confirm which food ingredient is contaminated, according to the CDC.
—Kate Gibson, CBS News, 23 Oct. 2024
Noun
And high unemployment is associated with a broad range of social ills, including higher rates of poverty, food insecurity, addiction and premature death.
—Jamelle Bouie, The Mercury News, 9 Oct. 2024
Many blame it for widening inequality, the loss of manufacturing jobs and a host of related social ills.
—Greg Rosalsky, NPR, 24 Sep. 2024
See all Example Sentences for bad
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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