bad
adjective
UK/bæd/US/bæd/
of poor quality, harmful, unpleasant, or not desirable
Example Sentences
He had a bad cold and couldn’t go to work.
The food tasted bad, so we decided not to eat there again.
It’s a bad idea to drive on icy roads without proper tires.
Her test results were so bad that she had to retake the exam.
Despite a bad start, the team managed to turn the game around.
Living in a polluted area can have a bad effect on your health, especially if you already suffer from respiratory issues.
He felt bad about canceling his appointment at the last minute, knowing it would inconvenience his doctor’s schedule and other patients.
After years of poor upkeep, the car was in such bad condition that it needed extensive repairs before it could be driven safely.
Thesaurus
Synonyms
Antonyms
How to Use
Describes something failing expectations in quality, morality, or success, often causing dissatisfaction or harm.“Bad” is an adjective that conveys negativity, dissatisfaction, or moral failing. It can describe poor quality (“The food was bad”), an undesirable experience (“That movie was really bad”), or a morally wrong act (“He did a bad thing”). Context helps clarify the nature of the shortcoming—whether it’s ineffectiveness, harmfulness, or simply lack of appeal.In everyday life, “bad” can be mild—like a subpar restaurant meal—or strong, implying serious danger, harm, or unethical conduct. For instance, “He’s in bad shape” might refer to poor health or trouble, while “He’s a bad influence” suggests negative moral or behavioral sway. As a universal term for negativity, “bad” appears often, requiring context to measure how severe or trivial the shortfall is. We also sometimes pair it with intensifiers (“really bad,” “so bad”) or synonyms for emphasis. Depending on usage, “bad” can take on a light, colloquial meaning (“That’s so bad it’s good!”) or a serious connotation (“A bad accident”), capturing a broad range of negative perceptions.
Alternatives
If you want more nuanced words, choose based on the dimension of ‘badness.’ “Poor,” “substandard,” or “inferior” highlight deficient quality. “Unpleasant,” “unfavorable,” or “undesirable” emphasize negative experiences. “Immoral,” “wrong,” or “evil” underscore moral deficiency. “Dangerous,” “harmful,” or “injurious” focus on the risk or damage caused. Each replacement can refine the tone or specify the kind of negativity. Meanwhile, “terrible,” “awful,” or “dreadful” provide stronger emphasis, signifying more severe negativity than “bad” alone.
Writing
In formal or literary contexts, consider whether you need a more precise term than “bad”—like “ineffective,” “pernicious,” or “unsatisfactory.” If you must use “bad,” detail how or why something is lacking, unethical, or harmful. For example: “The committee’s decision yielded bad outcomes for local economies,” might be enriched by specifying the nature of those outcomes—“reducing job opportunities” or “weakening social welfare.” If depicting a villain, you might show instead of state they’re ‘bad’ by illustrating harmful deeds. Outside moral or aesthetic judgments, use synonyms that specify the shortfall, such as “The data was inaccurate,” instead of “The data was bad.” Contextualizing negative attributes ensures clarity on how something fails expectations or norms.
Casual Conversation
In everyday conversation, “bad” crops up constantly—“That pizza tasted bad,” or “I feel bad about forgetting your birthday.” Friends might emphasize with intensifiers—“That’s so bad!” or “He’s in a really bad mood.” We also find humorous reversals—calling something “bad” in a slang sense can mean “cool” or “impressive,” though that usage has become less common or more context-dependent. Typically, “bad” is straightforwardly negative, but it spans from minor disappointment (“This pen writes bad”) to severe condemnation (“That’s a really bad idea!”). Tone and context clarify how grave or trivial the negativity is. If it’s an easily fixable flaw, “bad” might be mild; if describing serious harm, “bad” conveys major trouble or wrongdoing.
Etymology
“Bad” is rooted in Old English “bæddel,” initially referencing someone morally corrupt or unclean. Over time, usage broadened to encompass any negative trait—ethical, qualitative, or experiential. Middle English spelled it as “badde,” with connotations of moral failing or worthless state. As language evolved, “bad” became the default antonym of “good,” covering a wide spectrum of undesirable qualities. Whether signifying moral deficiency, poor performance, or an unpleasant experience, “bad” remains central in describing negativity in English, owing to its longstanding, flexible role as the polar opposite of “good.”