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.
“Dwelling on the past, if it was bad, is not gonna get you anywhere. Getting too high in the successful moments isn’t gonna get you anywhere,” he said.
From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 2, 2026
"That's what bad actors want: for people to think that everything can be faked, so they can't trust anything," Covington told AFP.
From Barron's • Apr. 2, 2026
The weather is expected to be bad on Thursday in most areas of the country "with long-lasting and intense rains and storms and possibly with local hail", according to the national meteorological service.
From BBC • Apr. 2, 2026
Mr. Page gave us an informed tour of Shakespeare’s baddest bad guys in his solo show “All the Devils Are Here: How Shakespeare Invented the Villain,” seen off-Broadway and soon to become a book.
From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 1, 2026
“It’s not so bad, is it?” he asked.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.
