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Definitions

bad

[bad] / bæd /
ADJECTIVE
of poor quality
Synonyms
STRONGEST
awful cheap dreadful inferior lousy poor terrible
STRONG
abominable abysmal atrocious careless defective deficient dissatisfactory erroneous faulty imperfect mediocre second-rate shoddy substandard unacceptable unsatisfactory
WEAK
cheesy crappy cruddy crummy godawful half-assed inadequate junky poxy sad slipshod tacky
Antonyms
STRONGEST
OK good great high-quality pleasing superior well-made wonderful
ADJECTIVE
harmful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
dangerous deleterious harmful toxic unhealthy unwholesome
STRONG
damaging detrimental disadvantageous injurious noxious pernicious pestilent
WEAK
destructive hurtful ruinous
Antonyms
STRONG
advantageous beneficial benign good harmless healthy innocuous wholesome
WEAK
OK
ADJECTIVE
immoral
Synonyms
STRONGEST
evil unethical wicked wrong
STRONG
base delinquent disgraceful reprobate shameful
WEAK
corrupt criminal iniquitous sinful vicious vile villainous wicked
Antonyms
STRONGEST
decent ethical good honest moral
STRONG
noble upright virtuous
WEAK
benevolent just reputable right true worthy
ADJECTIVE
disobedient or mischievous
Synonyms
STRONGEST
disobedient ill-behaved misbehaving mischievous naughty
STRONG
cheeky impish irreverent rascally sassy sly vexatious wicked
WEAK
difficult disrespectful rude troublesome unruly
Antonyms
STRONGEST
good obedient well-behaved
WEAK
compliant respectful sweet
ADJECTIVE
of food, decayed or rotten
Synonyms
STRONGEST
off rotten sour
STRONG
putrid rancid spoiled turned
WEAK
curdled moldy
Antonyms
STRONG
OK all right appetizing fresh undecayed unspoiled
ADJECTIVE
severe, serious
Synonyms
STRONGEST
awful grave serious severe terrible
STRONG
acute critical devastating disastrous distressing dreadful extreme
WEAK
harsh intense painful
Antonyms
STRONGEST
mild
STRONG
minor moderate slight
ADJECTIVE
sick
Synonyms
STRONGEST
ill sick unwell
STRONG
ailing indisposed queasy sickly under the weather weak
WEAK
in pain
Antonyms
STRONG
better
WEAK
OK fine good well
ADJECTIVE
sorry or disappointed
Synonyms
STRONG
down downcast hurt low regretful remorseful rueful sad sorry upset
WEAK
conscience-stricken contrite crestfallen dejected depressed disconsolate downhearted guilty sorrowful woebegone
Antonyms
STRONGEST
better
STRONG
cheerful happy heartened relieved satisfied
WEAK
OK good
ADJECTIVE
unpleasant, unfavorable
Synonyms
STRONGEST
awful grim miserable unfavorable unfortunate unpleasant
STRONG
adverse disagreeable negative
WEAK
discouraging displeasing distressing gloomy melancholy troubling unhappy upsetting
Antonyms
STRONGEST
agreeable favorable good great happy
STRONG
carefree fortunate pleasant
ADJECTIVE
(informal) impressively tough or skillful
Synonyms
STRONGEST
badass cool fierce impressive tough
STRONG
admirable imposing intimidating
WEAK
awe-inspiring grand mighty
Antonyms
STRONG
lame
WEAK
weak wimpy

Usage

What are other ways to say bad?

When describing things that are lacking in moral qualities or are actually vicious and reprehensible, bad is the broadest and simplest term: a bad man; bad habits. Evil applies to that which violates or leads to the violation of moral law: evil practices. Ill now appears mainly in certain fixed expressions, with a milder implication than that in evil: ill will; ill-natured. Wicked implies willful and determined doing of what is very wrong: a wicked plan.

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

She has enough credibility among progressives to be a responsible voice who wouldn’t be swept downstream by the latest, bad trend.

From Slate • May 2, 2026

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy told Reuters a rescue would amount to tossing "good money after bad".

From BBC • May 2, 2026

It seems like protecting children may be bad for business.

From Barron's • May 1, 2026

Cox had expected to have three horses in the Derby but the barn was hit with some bad news on Thursday morning, when Fulleffort was scratched due to a chip in his left hind ankle.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 1, 2026

Apart from everything else, we were in Aunt Maud’s bad books.

From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck

Vocabulary lists containing bad

Unknown Origins

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