The word ‘bad’ is one that is frequently used in English, and yet there are many other different words you can use instead to be more specific and make your writing more interesting.
There are several different meanings of ‘bad’, so decide on the meaning you want before choosing a suitable synonym.
If you want a synonym for ‘bad’ to say that something is awful or harmful, here are some alternative words you could use:
appalling
The weather for our sports day was appalling.
damaging
Car fumes can be highly damaging to the environment.
dangerous
Building sites are dangerous places.
dreadful
It was a dreadful shame that the weather was so bad for the party.
serious
The artist’s illness was too serious for him to continue painting.
terrible
Our team was terrible today. We lost by four goals!
If something is ‘bad’ because it is not of a very good quality, use one of the words below:
abysmal
“Such abysmal work is not acceptable,” said Mr Malone severely.
atrocious
The reporter admitted that his spelling was atrocious.
faulty
Engineers soon fixed the faulty telephone line.
inferior
The paint we bought was of inferior quality and didn’t last very long.
shoddy
Owing to shoddy workmanship, the house had to be redecorated.
unsatisfactory
The inspectors said just under a third of lessons were unsatisfactory.
To describe someone as ‘bad’ when they are being unkind or not behaving well, try one of these words:
cruel
I can’t stand people being cruel to children or animals.
disobedient
he disobedient boy ignored the warning notice and fell into the quarry.
evil
The programme was about the country’s most evil criminals.
mischievous
Tying Kerry’s shoelaces together was a mischievous prank.
naughty
“You’re a naughty girl, Cassandra,” said her mother angrily.
unkind
It was unkind to go without asking her.
wicked
The wicked witch lived alone.
Look at the Thesaurus entry for bad to find other synonyms and examples.
All opinions expressed on this blog are those of the individual writers, and do not necessarily reflect the opinions or policies of Collins, or its parent company, HarperCollins.
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