Another Word for Bad: 25 Synonyms with Examples
“Bad” is broad and informal. A precise synonym says whether something is poor in quality, harmful, wicked, serious or unpleasant.
As an adjective: of poor quality
- poor
- inferior
- substandard
- inadequate
- unsatisfactory
- shoddy
- faulty
As an adjective: harmful or unpleasant
- harmful
- damaging
- unpleasant
- nasty
- awful
- terrible
- dreadful
As an adjective: morally wrong
- wicked
- evil
- immoral
- wrong
- dishonest
- corrupt
As an adjective: serious or severe
- serious
- severe
- grave
- acute
- critical
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How they differ
Synonyms share a meaning, not always a tone. Here is when to pick each of the main options.
- poor
- Neutral and polite; good for feedback on quality.
- substandard
- Below an expected or required standard; formal.
- harmful
- Focuses on damage done rather than quality.
- wicked
- Strongly moral; can sound old-fashioned or playful.
- severe
- For illnesses, weather and problems that are very serious.
Example sentences
- poor: The signal is poor in the countryside.
- substandard: The builders were accused of substandard work.
- harmful: Smoking is harmful to the people around you too.
- wicked: The story's wicked stepmother is its most memorable character.
- severe: The region was hit by a severe drought.
Opposite of bad
- good
- excellent
- fine
- beneficial
More from WordNet
Less common or more specialised words WordNet lists for other senses of “bad”. Check the meaning before you use one.
adjective: big, tough, spoiled, spoilt
noun: badness
adverb: badly
WordNet 3.1, Princeton University. Used under the WordNet licence.
Frequently asked questions
What is another word for “bad”?
The most useful alternatives are “poor”, “inferior”, “substandard”, “inadequate”, “unsatisfactory”. For the main sense (of poor quality), “poor” is usually the closest swap.
What is the difference between “poor” and “substandard”?
poor: Neutral and polite; good for feedback on quality. substandard: Below an expected or required standard; formal.
What is the opposite of “bad”?
Common antonyms are “good”, “excellent”, “fine”, “beneficial”.