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.
GLP-1 weight-loss drugs have generally been seen as bad news for restaurant chains — but maybe not for Cheesecake Factory, thanks in part to its gargantuan menu.
From MarketWatch • May 14, 2026
“People can be so excited about growth that they make bad assumptions.”
From Barron's • May 14, 2026
Maybe it wouldn’t be so bad, Edith’s father suggested, just a bit of work while waiting for the end of the war.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 14, 2026
An unhinged Olivia Wilde as the ultimate bad boss — an art star hoping to recapture some edge — gets you in the door.
From Los Angeles Times • May 14, 2026
The Soul-Eaters, like half-glimpsed shadows in a bad dream.
From "Wolf Brother" by Michelle Paver
Vocabulary lists containing bad
