Bad Synonyms: 80 Synonyms for Bad in English

In this reference, you will find a helpful list of synonyms for the word “BAD.” The main sections include common bad synonyms, synonyms of bad in different contexts with example sentences to help you improve your English vocabulary. Explore a range of BAD synonyms and a visual guide to boost your understanding.

Bad Synonyms

Bad Synonyms
Bad Synonyms – Created by 7ESL

What Is Bad?

Bad is an adjective that describes something negative, undesirable, or harmful. It is often used to express unfavorable qualities, conditions, or outcomes in various contexts.

List of Synonyms for Bad

  • Awful
  • Atrocious
  • Disagreeable
  • Grievous
  • Infamous
  • Odious
  • Sordid
  • Rotten
  • Awful
  • Disheartening
  • Hateful
  • Infernal
  • Offensive
  • Naughty
  • Barbaric
  • Disgusting
  • Harmful
  • Iniquitous
  • Pejorative
  • Terrible
  • Mean
  • Base
  • Dismaying
  • Heinous
  • Injurious
  • Repellent
  • Treacherous
  • Dreadful
  • Beastly
  • Displeasing
  • Hellish
  • Loathsome
  • Reprehensible
  • Nasty
  • Distasteful
  • Hideous
  • Reprobate
  • Unpleasant
  • Wicked
  • Disturbing
  • Horrendous
  • Malevolent
  • Repugnant
  • Unworthy
  • Contemptible
  • Dreadful
  • Horrible
  • Mischievous
  • Repulsive
  • Terrible
  • Cursed
  • Horrid
  • Monstrous
  • Revolting
  • Vicious
  • Unpleasant
  • Degenerate
  • Evil
  • Horrific
  • Rotten
  • Vile
  • Despicable
  • Fiendish
  • Icky
  • Scandalous
  • Wicked
  • Ignoble
  • Annoying
  • Diabolical
  • Galling
  • Immoral
  • Nefarious
  • Sinful
  • Appalling
  • Dire
  • Ghastly
  • Inclement
  • Obscene
  • Sinister
  • Sickening
  • Worthless

Types of Synonyms for Bad

Poor Quality

  • Poor
  • Inferior
  • Substandard
  • Defective
  • Mediocre

Moral Judgment

  • Evil
  • Wicked
  • Immoral
  • Corrupt
  • Sinful

Harmfulness

  • Harmful
  • Detrimental
  • Dangerous
  • Toxic
  • Unhealthy

Unpleasant Experience

  • Unpleasant
  • Annoying
  • Disagreeable
  • Awful
  • Terrible

Severity

  • Serious
  • Grave
  • Severe
  • Critical
  • Dire

Failure or Ineffectiveness

  • Ineffective
  • Useless
  • Worthless
  • Hopeless
  • Inadequate

Condition or State

  • Broken
  • Damaged
  • Faulty
  • Ruined
  • Worn-out

Emotionally Negative

  • Sad
  • Depressing
  • Gloomy
  • Miserable
  • Unfortunate

Common Synonyms for Bad

Bad vs. Awful

Bad:

  • A general term to describe something negative, poor, or undesirable.
  • It is less intense and can be used in various contexts (quality, behavior, situations, etc.).
  • The food was bad, but we still ate it.

Awful:

  • A stronger, more extreme term to describe something very unpleasant, terrible, or shocking.
  • Often conveys a sense of disgust, horror, or intense negativity.
  • The smell from the garbage was absolutely awful.

Bad vs. Terrible

Bad:

  • A general term to describe something negative, poor, or undesirable.
  • Less intense and commonly used for mild to moderate dissatisfaction.
  • The service at the restaurant was bad, but the food was okay.

Terrible:

  • A stronger term used to describe something extremely bad or unpleasant.
  • Implies a higher degree of negativity, often with an emotional or dramatic tone.
  • The storm was terrible; it caused a lot of damage.

Bad vs. Horrible

Bad:

  • A general term to describe something negative, undesirable, or poor in quality.
  • Less intense and can be used in everyday situations.
  • The cake tasted bad because it was burnt.

Horrible:

  • A stronger term used to describe something extremely unpleasant, disgusting, or shocking.
  • Conveys a sense of intense dislike or distress.
  • The smell from the trash was horrible; I couldn’t stay in the room.

Synonyms of Bad in Different Contexts

Poor Quality

  • Inferior: The materials used in this product are of inferior quality.
  • Substandard: The substandard plumbing caused constant leaks.
  • Defective: The car had a defective engine and wouldn’t start.
  • Mediocre: The movie was mediocre, with no memorable moments.
  • Shoddy: The shoddy construction of the building led to its collapse.

Moral Judgment

  • Evil: The antagonist in the novel was driven by evil intentions.
  • Wicked: The wicked plot to overthrow the king was discovered in time.
  • Corrupt: The corrupt politician was caught accepting bribes.
  • Immoral: Lying to achieve success is considered immoral.
  • Sinful: The preacher warned against living a sinful life.

Harmfulness

  • Harmful: Smoking is harmful to your health.
  • Detrimental: Pollution is detrimental to marine ecosystems.
  • Toxic: The toxic chemicals leaked into the water supply.
  • Perilous: The climbers took a perilous route to the summit.
  • Unhealthy: Eating too much fast food is unhealthy.

Unpleasant Experience

  • Unpleasant: The weather was unpleasant, with heavy rain and strong winds.
  • Awful: The smell in the room was absolutely awful.
  • Terrible: I had a terrible headache after the loud concert.
  • Dreadful: The service at the hotel was dreadful.
  • Abysmal: The team’s performance was abysmal and embarrassing.

Severity

  • Serious: This is a serious issue that requires immediate attention.
  • Grave: The doctor had a grave expression when delivering the diagnosis.
  • Critical: The patient is in critical condition after the accident.
  • Dire: The country is facing dire economic challenges.
  • Severe: The region experienced severe drought conditions.

Failure or Ineffectiveness

  • Ineffective: The new policy was ineffective in reducing crime rates.
  • Useless: The broken phone is completely useless now.
  • Inadequate: The report provided inadequate evidence to support the claim.
  • Hopeless: The situation seemed hopeless, but they refused to give up.
  • Worthless: The counterfeit money was completely worthless.

Condition or State

  • Broken: The clock is broken and needs repair.
  • Damaged: The shipment arrived damaged, with many items missing.
  • Faulty: The faulty wiring caused the power outage.
  • Ruined: The heavy rain ruined their outdoor plans.
  • Worn-out: The worn-out shoes were no longer comfortable to wear.

Emotionally Negative

  • Sad: The news of the disaster left everyone sad.
  • Depressing: The movie’s ending was so depressing that it left the audience in tears.
  • Gloomy: The gloomy weather matched his mood.
  • Miserable: She felt miserable after failing the exam.
  • Unfortunate: It was unfortunate that the event had to be canceled.

Absolute and Near Synonyms for Bad

Absolute Synonyms for Bad

Synonym Meaning
Poor Of low quality or standard.
Evil Morally wrong or wicked.
Wicked Morally bad or unethical.
Defective Faulty or not functioning properly.
Inferior Below the required or expected standard.
Terrible Extremely bad or unpleasant.
Awful Very bad or disagreeable.
Abysmal Shockingly bad or appalling.
Harmful Causing damage or injury.
Dreadful Extremely bad or causing great suffering.

Near Synonyms for Bad

Synonym Meaning
Unpleasant Causing discomfort or displeasure.
Sad Causing unhappiness or sorrow.
Mediocre Of average or below-average quality.
Faulty Not functioning correctly or having defects.
Broken Damaged or no longer working properly.
Toxic Harmful or poisonous, often emotionally or physically damaging.
Serious Important or critical, often with negative implications.
Hopeless Without any chance of success or improvement.
Inferior Not as good as something else, lower in quality.
Substandard Falling below the accepted standard or quality.

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