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.
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So far, the bad loans are cropping up primarily in healthcare companies, like dental-service provider Affordable Care, or businesses affected by higher oil prices, including plastic-film maker Loparex.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
He added: "They had no concept of how bad Scottish weather can be and how unrelenting the wind and rain is."
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
As a parent of two kids juggling childcare costs, enrichment activities and our grocery budget, putting money into an investment across the world seemed like a bad move.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
It resembles LDL, often called "bad" cholesterol, but includes an additional protein that may make it more likely to contribute to cardiovascular disease.
From Science Daily ● Aug. 10, 2026
The worst criminal of all, with a record of many bad deeds, was a very cocky and arrogant man named Gines de Pasamonte.
From "Adventures of Don Quixote" by Argentina Palacios
Other companies have also pushed the idea that AI will effectively reduce the number of hours people need to work, for better or worse.
From BBC ● Aug. 10, 2026
Not paying Mayfield would be a risk because whoever they find to replace him may turn out to be considerably worse.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 10, 2026
But other times we have to stop because of discomfort or panic, a reality that affects us for the worse.
From Slate ● Aug. 10, 2026
They standardized on this particular uniform because everyone had different ideas of what they wanted to wear onstage and they didn’t want audiences to think they were a glam band or, worse.
From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026
Elliot yanked me sideways before I could accidentally trip anyone, and we huddled next to what was left of the stone wall as things went from bad to worse.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
The president's latest order also arrives just as children across the country are readying to return to school, and as the US suffers its worst measles outbreak in 35 years.
From Barron's ● Aug. 10, 2026
July’s selloff resulted in the worst month for the momentum trade since 2000, according to one measure — but wild swings beneath the surface barely registered at the index level.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 10, 2026
Whatever the case, the occasion seemed a good moment to rank all 29 of Mellencamp’s singles that have charted on Billboard’s Hot 100 — starting with the worst and ending with the best.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 10, 2026
The French have it the worst, as has been the case in eight of the past 10 years.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
No. The real worst was when beets touched something.
From "All About Sam" by Lois Lowry
Vocabulary lists containing bad
