bad 1 of 3

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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as in sad
feeling unhappiness hearing about the world's miseries always makes him feel bad

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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

bad

2 of 3

adverb

bad

3 of 3

noun

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bad news
awful news
bad weather
poor weather
awful weather
terrible weather
nasty weather
unfavorable weather
bad luck
rotten luck
lousy luck
a bad idea
a foolish idea
a dangerous idea
a poor idea
an unwise idea
an awful idea
bad behavior
malicious behavior
naughty behavior
poor behavior
terrible behavior
awful behavior

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • And be sure to attend the Saint Nicholas Parade and Krampus Run in Igls — those on the nice list get a small gift, while those who have been naughty can expect a little fright.
    Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 4 Nov. 2024
  • This devastating turns of events was into motion, oddly enough, when Nancy accidentally texted a naughty photo of herself to everyone in the 126.
    Andy Swift, TVLine, 4 Nov. 2024
Adjective
  • Maybe not the question to ask a Canadian, but could sad smoke breaks bring America together today?
    Bethy Squires, Vulture, 6 Nov. 2024
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Her pregnancies are painful and unpleasant, especially compared to Lenù’s.
    Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 7 Nov. 2024
  • 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 21 Nov. 2024.

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