Bad Word Meaning

Middle English: perhaps from Old English bǣddel ‘hermaphrodite, womanish man’

of poor quality or a low standard

of poor quality or low standard

• a bad diet
• bad eyesight

not such as to be hoped for or desired; unpleasant or unwelcome

unpleasant or unwelcome

• bad news
• it was the worst day of his life
• bad luck

failing to conform to standards of moral virtue or acceptable conduct

failing to conform to standards of moral virtue

• the bad guys
• bad behaviour

(of a part of the body) injured, diseased, or painful

injured, diseased, or painful

• a bad back

(of food) decayed; putrid

decayed

• everything in the fridge went bad

regretful, guilty, or ashamed about something

regretful, guilty, or ashamed

• she feels bad about ending their engagement
• I feel bad that our business is benefiting from something so horrible

worthless; not valid

worthless

• he ran up 87 bad cheques

good; excellent

excellent

• they want the baddest, best-looking Corvette there is

badly

badly

• he beat her up real bad