bad
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.
See Examples For:
“Just because they are a bad communicator, that doesn’t mean they are a mean person,” she says.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
Meanwhile, Carlos Cordeiro, a senior adviser to Fifa chief Gianni Infantino, resigned from his position, saying the proposal was "a bad deal for football" and would "mortgage football's future".
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
“It is a bad deal for FIFA’s member associations, a bad deal for football, and a bad deal for the long-term future of the game.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Walking around Comic Con, I couldn’t help thinking that dressing up in gaudy costumes wouldn’t be a bad idea either.
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
Then he said, “Russell, I think she’s turning out to be not too bad a teacher.”
From "The Teacher’s Funeral" by Richard Peck
How has this problem gotten worse over time?
From Slate ● Jul. 31, 2026
But the new PM has promised also the most radical governing agenda in decades to ease the cost of living, which has been made worse by the Middle East war pushing up energy bills.
From Barron's ● Jul. 31, 2026
His team decided it was his best play, according to people familiar with his legal strategy—because his alternatives were worse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 31, 2026
Foster said he understood the concern but believes the alternative would be worse.
From BBC ● Jul. 31, 2026
‘So gradual you could sometimes convince yourself it wasn’t really happening. Till it started speeding up, and it felt like every time we saw her she’d taken another giant turn for the worse.’
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
The stock is also pacing toward its worst overall drop since March 16, 2020, when it fell 12.9%.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 31, 2026
She also described the experience as “the worst thing I have ever had to live through.”
From Salon ● Jul. 31, 2026
For Martha, perhaps the worst action taken by the immigration consultant: He filed a political asylum case on her behalf instead, which she does not qualify for and didn’t want.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 31, 2026
His perfectionism was his best friend and worst enemy: One source remembers him playing to a crowd of 60,000 and receiving a standing ovation, only to come off stage and say, “I suck.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 30, 2026
If only the phone were the worst of my problems.
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
Vocabulary lists containing bad
