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
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
4
as in naughty
engaging in or marked by childish misbehavior
the children were bad, so they didn't get dessert
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
5
as in sad
feeling unhappiness
hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
6
as in defective
having a fault
a bad video connection that is causing some picture loss
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
7
as in rotten
having undergone organic breakdown
I think the milk has turned bad
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
11
as in null
having no legal or binding force
all known claims on the property were dismissed by the court as bad
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
Synonyms & Similar Words
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
as in badly
in an unsatisfactory way
you didn't do too bad on the treadmill test
Synonyms & Similar Words
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
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
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Recent Examples of bad
Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
For better or worse, the author brand has become as integral to literary success as the writing itself.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 2025
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
In fact, consistently beating the S&P 500 — in good times and bad — has been difficult over recent years for individual stocks; for heavyweights in the Consumer Staples sector including PG, CL, and KMB, and even for the megacap stars GOOG, TSLA, and MSFT.
—Trefis Team, Forbes, 23 Jan. 2025
For better or worse, the author brand has become as integral to literary success as the writing itself.
—Jd Barker, Rolling Stone, 23 Jan. 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
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
-
Greenwashing and intentional misinformation are unacceptable, but silence from the best actors is an even bigger risk.—
Jesper Brodin,
TIME,
23 Jan. 2025
-
In this team, calling in sick for shady reasons is unacceptable.—
Lieke ten Brummelhuis,
Forbes,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
One of the most recognizable celebrations is lion dance troupes, a dramatic tradition meant to usher in the New Year and expel evil spirits.—
Eric Lagatta,
USA TODAY,
29 Jan. 2025
-
In defense of my actions, as a general rule, mother-of-the-bride dresses are evil monstrosities.—
Sherry Kuehl,
Kansas City Star,
29 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Avocado oil reduces unstable harmful molecules (free radicals) in rodent brains and increases the presence of antioxidant molecules.1 6.—
Amy Brownstein, MS, RDN,
Verywell Health,
31 Jan. 2025
-
Wear sunglasses that block 100% of UVA and UVB rays to protect your eyes from harmful UV exposure, even on cloudy days.—
Dan Perry,
Newsweek,
31 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
The eye-catching jacket—with an assist from the leopard print bag—gave Moss’s ladylike outfit a naughty edge.—
Hannah Jackson,
Vogue,
24 Jan. 2025
-
The naughty version pours sugar into your gas tank and rats you out to the IRS.—
Bryce Miller,
San Diego Union-Tribune,
23 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
January 26, 2025: Once again, the Bills lose their playoff game against the Chiefs, sparking a bunch of sad Josh Allen edits on TikTok.—
Glamour,
Glamour,
27 Jan. 2025
-
In a sad irony, her grieving family strives to live by Maggie’s words and channel her spirit.—
Faith Karimi,
CNN,
26 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
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
-
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
-
There is something rotten about it, and its been that way for a large sample size now.—
Joshua Kloke,
The Athletic,
15 Jan. 2025
-
Summary Flatulence that smells like rotten eggs is common and is caused by eating foods containing sulfur.—
Laura Dorwart,
Verywell Health,
15 Jan. 2025
Adjective
-
Based on the negative reaction from the crowd, the CBS late night host acknowledged that unpleasant feelings abound.—
Jackie Strause,
The Hollywood Reporter,
21 Jan. 2025
-
While wildly unpleasant, most people affected with norovirus see their symptoms resolve within a few days, the Mayo Clinic says.—
Cara Lynn Shultz,
People.com,
20 Jan. 2025
Thesaurus Entries Near bad
Cite this Entry
“Bad.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/bad. Accessed 3 Feb. 2025.
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