18 Other Ways to Say BAD | Bad Synonyms (Examples)

You often hear the word “bad,” but there are many other words that can express the same feeling in a stronger or more interesting way. Using different words makes your writing or speech more exciting and clear. In this article, you will discover 18 simple yet effective synonyms for “bad” with examples to help you use them easily every day.

18 Different Ways to Say BAD: Another Word for Bad

Awful

Awful is a strong word used to describe something very unpleasant, shocking, or terrible. It works well when you want to show strong emotions about a situation. You can use awful to describe experiences, events, or objects that leave a bad impression. The word is easy to remember and makes your meaning clear without sounding too complicated. Awful also works when you want to express disappointment politely but firmly. It connects with “bad” because it emphasizes something very negative or unwanted.

The movie was awful, I couldn’t watch it till the end.
His behavior in the meeting was awful.
The food at that restaurant tasted awful.
I felt awful after hearing the bad news.
That was an awful mistake on her part.
The weather today is simply awful.

Terrible

Terrible is a common synonym for bad that shows strong negativity. You can use it when something is extremely unpleasant, harmful, or frightening. Terrible works for mistakes, experiences, accidents, or feelings that have a strong effect on people. It makes your sentences sound clear and emotional. Using terrible instead of bad makes your speech more powerful. It is relatable in everyday conversations and easily understood by everyone.

The storm last night was terrible.
I had a terrible headache yesterday.
That was a terrible idea to try.
The movie’s ending was terrible.
She gave a terrible performance in the play.
His cooking today was terrible.

Poor

Poor is used to describe something that is not good in quality, performance, or condition. It is often polite and formal. Poor works well when talking about results, health, or services that are not satisfactory. It relates to bad because it shows a lack of quality or effectiveness. Using poor adds a slightly softer tone than awful or terrible, making it suitable for polite conversations or professional settings.

The student did a poor job on the assignment.
He has poor eyesight and needs glasses.
Their service at the hotel was poor.
She gave a poor performance in the competition.
The house is in poor condition.
He made a poor choice of words.

Wrong

Wrong refers to something that is incorrect, mistaken, or morally unacceptable. It works when describing actions, decisions, or answers that are not right. Using wrong instead of bad helps clarify the type of negativity you mean. It often focuses on moral or logical errors. Wrong is connected to bad because both show something is not acceptable or appropriate. You can use it in simple and clear ways in conversation.

You gave the wrong answer in class.
It was wrong to lie about the situation.
He made a wrong turn on the road.
That decision was completely wrong.
Wearing shoes inside the house is wrong.
Her reaction to the news was wrong.

Nasty

Nasty is used to describe something unpleasant, mean, or harmful. It works for behavior, weather, smells, or situations that are uncomfortable. Nasty is a casual word, often used in conversation to show strong disapproval. It relates to bad because it emphasizes unpleasantness or negativity. Using nasty makes your description vivid and easy to understand for everyone.

The milk smells nasty.
He said some nasty things to his friend.
There is a nasty storm coming tonight.
She has a nasty habit of interrupting people.
That was a nasty accident on the road.
I got a nasty cut on my hand.

Rotten

Rotten is a word that shows something is spoiled, decayed, or extremely bad. It works for food, objects, or situations that are unusable or unpleasant. Rotten is also used metaphorically for bad ideas or behavior. It connects to bad because it shows something is far from good or acceptable. The word is easy to remember and gives a clear picture of negativity.

The fruit in the basket is rotten.
He made a rotten decision yesterday.
That was a rotten movie.
The weather turned rotten very quickly.
She had a rotten day at work.
The milk has gone rotten.

Evil

Evil describes something morally wrong or very harmful. It is used to show extreme badness in actions, people, or events. Evil is connected to bad because both express negativity, but evil is stronger and often more serious. You can use it when describing strong immorality or danger. Using evil adds weight to your sentences and makes them more expressive.

The villain in the story is pure evil.
It was an evil act to cheat someone.
That plan is evil and dangerous.
He has an evil laugh that scares people.
The decision caused evil consequences.
They warned about an evil spirit in the house.

Mean

Mean is used to describe unkind, harsh, or cruel behavior. It works when you want to show that someone treats others badly. Mean is easy to use in conversation and is a common alternative to bad. It relates to bad because it focuses on negative behavior or attitude. Using mean helps describe people or actions in a simple and clear way.

She was mean to her little brother.
That’s a mean thing to say.
He gave me a mean look.
The teacher was mean to the students.
Don’t be mean to your friends.
He made a mean joke about her.

Ugly

Ugly is used to describe something visually unpleasant or unattractive. It works for people, objects, situations, or behavior. Ugly is a simple word that everyone understands. It relates to bad because both show something is undesirable. Using ugly makes your meaning clear and easy to understand in conversations or writing.

That building is really ugly.
She called the design ugly.
The movie has an ugly ending.
His behavior was ugly and rude.
The stain on the carpet is ugly.
That was an ugly fight between friends.

Harmful

Harmful means something that causes damage, injury, or bad effects. It works for actions, substances, or events. Using harmful instead of bad focuses on negative impact. It is a precise word that explains consequences. Harmful connects with bad because both show negativity, but harmful emphasizes danger or damage. It is useful in educational or serious contexts.

Smoking is harmful to your health.
That advice could be harmful.
The chemicals in the water are harmful.
Stress is harmful for students.
Certain foods can be harmful if eaten too much.
That decision might be harmful to the team.

Dreadful

Dreadful is a formal word used to describe something very bad, unpleasant, or frightening. It works for events, experiences, or conditions. Dreadful is stronger than bad but easy to use. It emphasizes strong negative feelings. Using dreadful instead of bad makes your writing more expressive and engaging. It connects with bad because both describe something unwanted or negative.

The weather was dreadful yesterday.
She had a dreadful headache.
That was a dreadful mistake.
The party turned into a dreadful event.
He gave a dreadful performance.
The movie had a dreadful ending.

Unpleasant

Unpleasant describes something that is not enjoyable, comfortable, or nice. It works for people, situations, or experiences. Unpleasant is softer than awful or terrible but still shows negativity. Using unpleasant helps to describe mild or moderate bad experiences. It is connected to bad because it shows something undesirable. You can use it in polite conversations or casual talks.

The food was unpleasant to eat.
I had an unpleasant experience yesterday.
That was an unpleasant smell.
The conversation became unpleasant quickly.
His attitude was unpleasant.
It was an unpleasant surprise.

Inferior

Inferior is used to describe something of lower quality or rank. It works well for products, services, or performance. Inferior connects to bad because both show something is not good or acceptable. Using inferior makes your speech or writing sound formal and clear. It is often used in professional, academic, or product reviews.

This product is inferior to the last one.
His work is inferior compared to hers.
The meal was inferior at that restaurant.
That car model is inferior to the new version.
The book’s quality is inferior.
Their service is inferior to competitors.

Faulty

Faulty describes something that has mistakes, errors, or defects. It works for machines, plans, or processes. Faulty is a clear alternative to bad because it focuses on problems. Using faulty makes your sentences precise and professional. It is commonly used in technical or work-related contexts.

The printer is faulty and won’t work.
That’s a faulty argument.
The wiring in the house is faulty.
She returned the faulty product.
The system has faulty parts.
He made a faulty assumption.

Wicked

Wicked is used to describe something morally bad, evil, or very unpleasant. It works in informal speech and writing to emphasize badness. Wicked relates to bad by showing strong negativity or harmfulness. It is also used playfully to describe mischievous acts. Using wicked makes sentences lively and expressive.

The witch in the story was wicked.
He played a wicked trick on his friend.
That was a wicked storm.
She has a wicked sense of humor.
The plan was wickedly clever.
His actions were wicked.

Sick

Sick can describe something very unpleasant, disgusting, or morally wrong. It works in casual conversations to show strong negative feelings. Sick is related to bad because both express negativity, but sick can also describe physical or moral discomfort. Using sick makes your description modern and conversational.

That joke was sick.
The food looked sick.
He has a sick sense of humor.
The news made me feel sick.
That’s a sick trick he played.
The movie scene was sick.

Defective

Defective describes something that does not work properly or has problems. It works for products, machines, or objects. Defective is a professional synonym for bad because it focuses on flaws. Using defective makes your description precise and useful for practical contexts. It relates to bad because both indicate undesirability.

The phone is defective and won’t turn on.
She returned a defective product.
The machine has defective parts.
That model is defective.
The packaging was defective.
He found a defective wire.

Lousy

Lousy is a casual word used to describe something very bad, poor, or unpleasant. It works for experiences, work, or objects. Lousy is easy to understand and common in conversation. It relates to bad because both describe something negative or undesirable. Using lousy makes sentences friendly, simple, and relatable.

The weather was lousy today.
He did a lousy job on the project.
That was a lousy movie.
I feel lousy after eating too much.
She had a lousy day at work.
The hotel service was lousy.

Table of Synonyms for BAD

Synonym	Example
Abysmal	The service at the hotel was abysmal.
Atrocious	His performance in the play was atrocious.
Appalling	The state of the streets is appalling.
Heinous	The crime committed was heinous.
Horrible	The food tasted horrible.
Disgusting	The trash left in the park was disgusting.
Unkind	She was unkind to her classmates.
Miserable	I felt miserable after losing the game.
Regrettable	It was a regrettable mistake.
Awkward	The conversation became awkward.
Detestable	He committed a detestable act.
Unacceptable	The behavior was unacceptable.
Offensive	His comments were offensive.
Repulsive	The smell was repulsive.
Unfavorable	The weather forecast was unfavorable.

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide on synonyms for bad helps you add variety to your words. Using different words like awful, lousy, or terrible makes your sentences more interesting. Knowing these alternatives will improve your speaking and writing. Each synonym has its own nuance and fits different situations. By practicing these words, you can express negativity in a clearer, more engaging, and creative way every day.