Gloss · Another word for · bad

Another word for bad.

Bad says you disapprove, but not why. Name the fault: poor quality, harm, or wrongdoing.

Low in quality

• poorBad, said more politely.The hotel had poor service and thin walls.
• shoddyBad from careless, cheap work.The shoddy wiring caught fire within a year.
• abysmalAs bad as it gets.The team’s abysmal start cost them the season.

Doing harm

• harmfulPlainly bad for someone or something.Too much sun is harmful to young skin.
• damagingHarmful, often to a name or cause.The rumor was damaging to her business.
• perniciousHarmful slowly, often out of sight.Gossip had a pernicious effect on the office.

Morally bad

• wrongBad by a moral measure.It was wrong to read her letters.
• cruelBad because it means to hurt.That was a cruel thing to say to a child.
• wickedEvil, with a storybook ring.The stepmother in the story is truly wicked.

When to keep “bad”

Keep bad for ordinary trouble; a bad day or a bad cold needs no bigger word.

In Gloss, every word comes with its near neighbours and a line on how they differ, so you can pick the exact one. For iPhone, free for three days.

More words to swap

another word for beautiful · another word for very · another word for important · another word for said · another word for nice · another word for interesting

Guides: Words to use instead of “very” · How to be more articulate