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:
No deal is better than a bad one.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026
But what will be exceptionally bad timing for California’s coast is that, as El Niño’s full influence comes to bear, the king tides will be even higher than normal.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
For outsiders, Hegseth’s attempt at this version of manhood, complete with bad tattoos and workout videos, is cringeworthy.
From Salon ● Aug. 24, 2026
She was given multiple possible reasons for her symptoms: irritable bowel syndrome, a cyst, anxiety and "just a bad period".
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
Dad begged her not to go because the storm looked like it was going to be bad.
From "Split the Sky" by Marie Arnold
In January 2025 the conflict got worse when the M23 seized parts of eastern DR Congo, including Goma and two airports.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
"That's not shocking in the middle of August. I've already experienced much worse delays," he said.
From Barron's ● Aug. 23, 2026
Columbia had the same courthouse available but a worse record, and chose instead to reform.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
Today’s stock market could drop 11% and still be no worse off than where it would stand in a typical midterm election year.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 22, 2026
‘Something worse than the Nazis being in charge?’
From "Code Name Kingfisher" by Liz Kessler
“This is the worst it’s ever been by far.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 24, 2026
Samsung Electronics stock had its worst day in three weeks on Monday as investors reacted to its shareholder-return plan, souring the mood for other memory-chip making rivals.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 24, 2026
The worst of the storm only lasted five to 10 minutes, but the impacts are lingering 12 days later.
From BBC ● Aug. 23, 2026
It means going places you may never have wanted to go, sometimes at the worst times of year, with no guarantee that the spectacle won’t be rained out.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 23, 2026
“No. I’m asking about chemistry because you mentioned it was your worst subject. I told you that calculus was mine. Remember?”
From "Red Flags and Butterflies" by Sheryl Azzam
Vocabulary lists containing bad
