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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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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Antonyms & Near Antonyms
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
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
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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Not holding my breath for Mike Johnson or Elise Stefanik to state the obvious that this is unacceptable, dangerous, & shameful.Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024
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An American president who thinks strategically would likely conclude that the risks and costs associated with tariffs-as-a-tactic would be remarkably high, if not unacceptable.Samuel Gregg, National Review, 1 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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The story of a farmer tasked with protecting a magic baby from an evil queen is not exactly the most original story in the world, but that hasn’t stopped this from becoming a classic, with Warwick Davis as Willow Ufgood and Val Kilmer waving a sword around.Jennifer M. Wood, WIRED, 21 Nov. 2024
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The plot centers on Scott Pilgrim, a Canadian indie rock slacker who falls in love with a girl named Ramona Flowers and then has to fight her seven evil exes in video game-style battles.Dave Nemetz, TVLine, 20 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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Cleaning is a necessary part of life, an essential task that keeps us (and our families) safe from harmful germs and bacteria.Alyssa Shaffer, Better Homes & Gardens, 23 Nov. 2024
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Third-party testing confirms that the supplement contains the ingredients listed on the label and is free from harmful contaminants.Barbie Cervoni, Health, 23 Nov. 2024
Adjective
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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
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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
Adjective
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After a few training montages and a brief interview with facility manager Didi (Stephanie Beatriz), Charles moves into Pacific View to begin the process of meeting the staff and fellow residents, who are variously enthusiastic and sad, bored and over-programmed, lonely and horny.Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 21 Nov. 2024
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Last year, Ficklin was feeling a little sad and anxious about moving out of her family’s home of 23 years.Carolyn L. Todd, SELF, 20 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 30 Nov. 2024.
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