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:
On a spring afternoon in Wangaratta, nobody seemed to have a bad word to say about the former nurse and midwife turned politician.
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
According to a Washington Post-ABC News-Ipsos poll that was released Wednesday, 2 out of every 3 Americans oppose the construction of new U.S. data centers, while 57% said AI is a bad thing for society,
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
He made lots of news, much of it bad.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 21, 2026
You can’t feel too bad for Eminem, who’s had plenty of opportunities to see that who you rap with is who you are.
From Salon ● Oct. 21, 2026
Always before when pain from the gallstones had got too bad, she’d had an operation.
From "The Hiding Place" by Corrie ten Boom
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You cost us way more for the same results, or worse.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 21, 2026
The images of France's riots posted and broadcast around the world have cast a pall on the country's important tourism sector, with many fearing worse consequences if violence returns.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
Smaller defense companies have fared worse recently, presenting a possible buying opportunity.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
This has left them living in fear of being sent back, where many face being jailed, or worse.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
Or, worse, what if he was bored with our friendship now and wanted out?
From "Bye Forever, I Guess" by Jodi Meadows
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In comment fields online, some branded it the "worst Games in history" and urged a "full investigation".
From BBC ● Oct. 21, 2026
Among worst performers on Japan’s benchmark index, Fujikura falls 3.4%, SoftBank Group 9984 -5.43%decrease; red down pointing triangle drops 3.3%, and Resona Holdings 8308 -3.32%decrease; red down pointing triangle sheds 2.7%.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 20, 2026
Plummeting by nearly a third, the Elice debut is the worst ever in Korean stock-market history, according to Bloomberg.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 20, 2026
He says he is proof that even when you've made your worst mistake you can rebuild your life.
From BBC ● Oct. 20, 2026
He’d done a lot of bad things, but this, this was the worst.
From "Not Nothing" by Gayle Forman
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