189 Synonyms & Antonyms For BAD

Synonyms & Antonyms

Usage

Examples

Related Words

Definitions bad [bad] / bæd / ADJECTIVE of poor quality Synonyms STRONGEST awful cheap dreadful inferior lousy poor terrible STRONG abominable abysmal atrocious careless defective deficient dissatisfactory erroneous faulty imperfect mediocre second-rate shoddy substandard unacceptable unsatisfactory WEAK cheesy crappy cruddy crummy godawful half-assed inadequate junky poxy sad slipshod tacky Antonyms STRONGEST OK good great high-quality pleasing superior well-made wonderful ADJECTIVE harmful Synonyms STRONGEST dangerous deleterious harmful toxic unhealthy unwholesome STRONG damaging detrimental disadvantageous injurious noxious pernicious pestilent WEAK destructive hurtful ruinous Antonyms STRONG advantageous beneficial benign good harmless healthy innocuous wholesome WEAK OK ADJECTIVE immoral Synonyms STRONGEST evil unethical wicked wrong STRONG base delinquent disgraceful reprobate shameful WEAK corrupt criminal iniquitous sinful vicious vile villainous wicked Antonyms STRONGEST decent ethical good honest moral STRONG noble upright virtuous WEAK benevolent just reputable right true worthy ADJECTIVE disobedient or mischievous Synonyms STRONGEST disobedient ill-behaved misbehaving mischievous naughty STRONG cheeky impish irreverent rascally sassy sly vexatious wicked WEAK difficult disrespectful rude troublesome unruly Antonyms STRONGEST good obedient well-behaved WEAK compliant respectful sweet ADJECTIVE of food, decayed or rotten Synonyms STRONGEST off rotten sour STRONG putrid rancid spoiled turned WEAK curdled moldy Antonyms STRONG OK all right appetizing fresh undecayed unspoiled ADJECTIVE severe, serious Synonyms STRONGEST awful grave serious severe terrible STRONG acute critical devastating disastrous distressing dreadful extreme WEAK harsh intense painful Antonyms STRONGEST mild STRONG minor moderate slight ADJECTIVE sick Synonyms STRONGEST ill sick unwell STRONG ailing indisposed queasy sickly under the weather weak WEAK in pain Antonyms STRONG better WEAK OK fine good well ADJECTIVE sorry or disappointed Synonyms STRONG down downcast hurt low regretful remorseful rueful sad sorry upset WEAK conscience-stricken contrite crestfallen dejected depressed disconsolate downhearted guilty sorrowful woebegone Antonyms STRONGEST better STRONG cheerful happy heartened relieved satisfied WEAK OK good ADJECTIVE unpleasant, unfavorable Synonyms STRONGEST awful grim miserable unfavorable unfortunate unpleasant STRONG adverse disagreeable negative WEAK discouraging displeasing distressing gloomy melancholy troubling unhappy upsetting Antonyms STRONGEST agreeable favorable good great happy STRONG carefree fortunate pleasant ADJECTIVE (informal) impressively tough or skillful Synonyms STRONGEST badass cool fierce impressive tough STRONG admirable imposing intimidating WEAK awe-inspiring grand mighty Antonyms STRONG lame WEAK weak wimpy

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.

That second problem is poised to get even worse.

From The Wall Street Journal

If they didn’t return, their families could be saddled with debt—or worse.

From The Wall Street Journal

The union accuses management of introducing a new pension model that risks leaving staff worse off in retirement, and of not wanting to engage in constructive talks.

From Barron's

“That was probably the worst thing that ever happened to us.”

From The Wall Street Journal

A couple of months ago Aston Villa looked almost nailed on for a top-five finish as they sat at least eight points clear of the other three teams despite their underlying numbers being much worse.

From BBC

Related Words

Words related to bad are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word bad. Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

abominable amiss appalling atrocious atrocious bitter bum steer cheap cheaper cheapest contemptible damaging damndest damned dangerous dark darker darkest decayed deficient deleterious demonic depraved detrimental devilish disagreeable disconsolate displeasing disreputable dissatisfactory down downcast dreadful evil faulty frightful game gloomy harmful heinous hopeless hurtful immoral inauspicious indefensible inedible inferior injuries injurious injury invalid irremediable jeopardous lamentable lawless low low-grade low-quality malign malodorous melancholic mephitical mischievous miserable more dangerous more evil more poison more poisonous more poisonous more second-class more second class more secondclass most dangerous most evil most inferior most poison most poisonous most poisonous most second-class most second class most secondclass nasty null off parlous poison/poisonous poisonous prejudicial putrid rancid rank reprobate ripping rotten sad sad sadder saddest seamy second-class sinful sinister sour spoiled substandard toxicant tristful unfair unhallowed uninviting unmarred unsatisfactory vicious vile vilest villainous void woeful worse worst wrong wrong wrong wrongest wrongest wrongest

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.