OpenSynonym

bad

ADJECTIVE

1. Unfavorable or of poor quality

Not good, satisfactory, desirable, or acceptable in quality, condition, or result.

1.1. Generally poor or unsatisfactory

Used to describe something of low quality, poor standard, or disappointing value.

Synonyms

  • poor
  • inferior
  • substandard
  • unsatisfactory
  • unacceptable
  • mediocre
  • second-rate
  • low-grade

Antonyms

Examples

  • The movie received bad reviews from critics.
  • The restaurant has a bad reputation for its poor service.

Related Words

1.2. Unfavorable or negative circumstances

Describes circumstances, conditions, or outcomes that are undesirable, harmful, or likely to produce an unpleasant result.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • Bad weather forced the cancellation of the outdoor event.
  • The company experienced bad economic conditions during the recession.

Related Words

1.3. Harmful or dangerous effects

Describes something that causes damage, injury, danger, or other harmful consequences.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • Smoking has bad effects on the lungs.
  • Exposure to toxic chemicals can have bad consequences for the environment.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

2. Unsuitable or inappropriate

Not suitable, fitting, proper, or appropriate for a particular purpose, situation, or standard of conduct.

2.1. Not suitable for a purpose

Describes something that does not fit a particular need, purpose, requirement, or situation.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • suitable
  • appropriate
  • proper
  • fitting
  • compatible
  • adequate

Examples

  • These shoes are bad for hiking on rocky trails.
  • It would be a bad idea to drive without checking the brakes.

Related Words

2.2. Improper manners or conduct

Describes behavior, manners, or actions that are socially unacceptable, disrespectful, or contrary to expected standards.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • It is bad manners to interrupt someone while they are speaking.
  • His bad behavior upset the other guests.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

3. Unhealthy or ill

Affected by poor health, illness, or a physical condition that is not normal or healthy.

3.1. Poor health or physical illness

Describes a person who is sick, unwell, or suffering from an illness or physical discomfort.

Synonyms

  • ill
  • sick
  • unwell
  • ailing
  • indisposed
  • infirm
  • sickly

Antonyms

Examples

  • She stayed home because she was feeling bad.
  • The patient had been in bad health for several months.

Related Words

3.2. Unhealthy habits or conditions

Describes habits, substances, or living conditions that are harmful to health or likely to cause illness.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • Eating too much junk food can lead to bad health outcomes.
  • A lack of exercise and poor nutrition are bad for your health.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

4. Misbehaving or disobedient

Behaving in an unacceptable, mischievous, troublesome, or disobedient way.

4.1. Disobedient or troublesome behavior

Describes someone, especially a child or animal, who does not obey rules or behaves in a troublesome way.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The teacher warned the students not to be bad during the lesson.
  • The dog was bad and chewed the furniture while its owner was away.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

5. Evil or morally wrong

Morally unacceptable, wicked, or contrary to principles of goodness and righteousness.

5.1. Wicked or immoral character

Describes a person, action, or intention that is morally wrong, evil, or deliberately harmful to others.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The story describes a bad man who exploits innocent people.
  • He was punished for his bad and dishonest actions.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

6. Faulty or not functioning

Not working correctly, damaged, defective, or unable to perform its intended function.

6.1. Defective or malfunctioning

Describes equipment, machinery, or an object that is damaged, defective, or not operating as intended.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The mechanic discovered a bad connection in the electrical system.
  • The printer stopped working because of a bad component.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

7. Spoiled or rotten

No longer fresh or safe to eat because of decay, deterioration, or over-ripeness.

7.1. Food that has deteriorated

Describes food that has spoiled, rotted, or become unsuitable for consumption.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • fresh
  • good
  • wholesome
  • unspoiled
  • sound

Examples

  • The milk smelled bad, so she poured it down the sink.
  • He threw away the bad apples before they spoiled the rest.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

8. Unpleasant or stressful

Causing discomfort, distress, worry, or an unpleasant emotional experience.

8.1. Difficult or unpleasant experiences

Describes an experience, event, or situation that causes emotional discomfort, stress, disappointment, or distress.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • She had a bad feeling about the outcome of the meeting.
  • It was a bad experience that he did not want to repeat.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

9. Unpleasant smell or breath

Having an offensive, foul, or unpleasant odor.

9.1. Foul or unpleasant odor

Describes breath, air, or another source that produces an offensive or unpleasant smell.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • fragrant
  • sweet-smelling
  • pleasant
  • fresh
  • aromatic

Examples

  • The dentist explained that bad breath can have several causes.
  • A bad smell was coming from the refrigerator.

Related Words

  • odor
  • smell
  • stench
  • breath
  • fragrance

ADJECTIVE

10. Unskilled or lacking ability

Having limited skill, ability, or competence in performing a particular activity.

10.1. Poor skill or performance

Describes someone who performs an activity poorly because of limited ability, experience, or competence.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • He is a bad driver who often makes careless mistakes.
  • The team played badly because of poor coordination.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

11. Severe or urgent

Very serious, intense, or urgent in degree, especially when describing pain, need, or a difficult condition.

11.1. Severe pain or urgent need

Describes pain, need, or a problem that is intense, serious, or requires immediate attention.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • She was in bad pain after the accident.
  • The organization is in bad need of additional funding.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

12. False or counterfeit

Not genuine, authentic, or legally valid; made to imitate something legitimate.

12.1. Fake or illegitimate items

Describes money, documents, goods, or other items that are counterfeit, fraudulent, or not legally genuine.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The shop was selling bad copies of expensive designer watches.
  • The bank rejected the bad check because it was not genuine.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

13. Poor physical appearance

Having an unattractive, unpleasant, or unsatisfactory physical appearance.

13.1. Unattractive appearance

Describes a person's appearance or the look of something as unattractive, unpleasant, or poorly presented.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The building looked bad after years of neglect.
  • He felt that the haircut made him look bad.

Related Words

ADJECTIVE

14. Excellent or impressive

In informal slang, exceptionally good, impressive, or exciting, sometimes used to describe someone who is bold or daring.

14.1. Excellent or impressive in slang

Used informally, especially in some varieties of slang, to describe something exceptionally good, impressive, or exciting.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • That new song is bad; I have listened to it all day.
  • The basketball player is bad at the game, and everyone admires his skills.

Related Words

14.2. Bold or daring in slang

Used informally to describe someone who is bold, tough, confident, or impressively daring.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • She is a bad woman who never backs down from a challenge.
  • He has a bad reputation as a fearless competitor.

Related Words

NOUN

15. Error or mistake

An error, mistake, or instance of something being incorrect or done improperly.

15.1. An error or mistake

Refers to an error, fault, or incorrect action that causes an undesirable result.

Synonyms

  • error
  • mistake
  • fault
  • blunder
  • oversight
  • misstep

Antonyms

Examples

  • The report contained a few errors that needed to be corrected.
  • He admitted that the mistake was his fault.

Related Words

NOUN

16. Unwanted or negatively valued merchandise

An item of merchandise that is unwanted, defective, or considered to have negative value.

16.1. Defective or unwanted goods

Refers to merchandise that is defective, unwanted, or regarded as having little or no value.

Synonyms

  • defective goods
  • faulty merchandise
  • damaged goods
  • rejects
  • seconds

Antonyms

  • quality goods
  • premium merchandise
  • valuable goods

Examples

  • The store separated the bad from the saleable merchandise.
  • The shipment contained several damaged goods that had to be returned.

Related Words

  • merchandise
  • goods
  • inventory
  • defect
  • retail

ADVERB

17. In a bad manner or way

In a poor, unsatisfactory, or improper manner; the adverbial form is usually expressed as badly.

17.1. Poorly or incorrectly

Describes an action performed in an unsatisfactory, ineffective, or incorrect manner.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Examples

  • The team played badly in the first half.
  • The instructions were written so badly that nobody understood them.

Related Words