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.
We have this almost innate sense of: Well, if they indict someone, that person probably did something pretty bad.
From Slate • May 22, 2026
And, just as with candy, cookies or french fries, filling up on them can be bad for you.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 22, 2026
Kurtz said the evacuations were a precautionary measure, “so if anything bad were to happen, we’re dealing with property damage and not life safety.”
From Los Angeles Times • May 22, 2026
And she's happy to decline around 50 applicants a month rather than expose her 3,300 members to bad behaviour.
From BBC • May 21, 2026
He chokes here, on the word hero, he spits it out like it tastes bad.
From "The Brightwood Code" by Monica Hesse
Vocabulary lists containing bad
