English word

Bad

Definitions

adjective

  1. failing to reach an acceptable standard : poor
  2. serious, severe
  3. incorrect, faulty
  4. suffering pain or distress
  5. unhealthy, diseased
  6. sorrowful, sorry
  7. invalid, void
  8. not able to be collected
  9. good, great
  10. tough, mean
  11. unfavorable
  12. not fresh : spoiled
  13. not sound : dilapidated
  14. morally objectionable : evil
  15. mischievous, disobedient
  16. inadequate or unsuited to a purpose
  17. disagreeable, unpleasant
  18. injurious, harmful

Synonyms for bad

Closest evidence-backed alternatives.

Synonyms by context

Of poor quality or a low standard

adjective

  • cheap
  • crummy
  • abysmal

Having faults or errors

adjective

  • faulty
  • defective
  • inadequate
  • unreliable
  • flawed
  • impaired
  • imperfect
  • inferior
  • unsound

Damaged or defective in some way

adjective

  • broken
  • busted
  • damaged
  • down
  • kaput
  • malfunctioning
  • on the blink

That which is considered immoral

noun

  • immorality
  • debauchery
  • badness
  • darkness
  • degeneracy
  • depravity
  • evildoing
  • indecency
  • corruption
  • depravedness

(slang) Error or mistake

noun

  • fault
  • error
  • mistake
  • gaffe
  • screw-up
  • faux pas
  • flub
  • goof
  • blooper
  • blunder

An unjust, dishonest, or immoral act

noun

  • infringement
  • injustice
  • crime
  • sin
  • offence
  • grievance
  • injury
  • misdeed
  • abuse

(informal) In a poor, unsatisfactory, or inadequate way

adverb

  • badly
  • abominably
  • abysmally
  • atrociously
  • awfully
  • disastrously
  • dreadfully
  • egregiously
  • grossly
  • horrendously

Antonyms for bad

Opposite of of poor quality or a low standard

Opposite of having faults or errors

Opposite of lacking in competency, experience or skill

Opposite of that which is considered immoral

  • decency
  • righteousness
  • virtue
  • civility
  • grace
  • integrity
  • kindness
  • morality
  • benevolence
  • good will

(informal) Opposite of in a poor, unsatisfactory, or inadequate way

  • well
  • adeptly
  • effectively
  • efficiently
  • skillfully
  • with skill
  • admirably
  • profoundly
  • soundly

Phrases

  • a cut above
  • a dead loss
  • a dime a dozen
  • a load of pants
  • back seat
  • badly built
  • bad news
  • bad quality
  • below average
  • below par
  • below someone
  • below standard
  • beneath someone
  • beyond the pale
  • cheap and nasty
  • de luxe
  • down at heel
  • down scale
  • el cheapo
  • falling short