Synonyms of bad
120 similar words · 28 opposite words
Another word for bad is one-star. Other synonyms of bad are low-quality, low-grade, poor, second-rate and third-rate. The opposite of bad is positive.
Synonyms and similar words for bad
adjectiveOf low quality.
- cruddyCrummy, lousy, worthless.
- lousyInsufficient and less than expected of a good thing.
- shoddyPoor; low.
- ass slang, vulgarOf low quality; bad.
- baseMorally reprehensible, immoral; cowardly.
- below par
- bottom-shelfCheap or low-quality.
- BTEC UKLow-quality or inferior.
- bumOf poor quality or highly undesirable.
- cheapOf poor quality.
- cheap and nasty UKCheap and of bad quality.
- cheapshit vulgarCheap; shoddy; of inferior quality.
- cheesyCheap, of poor quality.
- chintzy figurativelyTastelessly showy; cheap, gaudy, or tacky.
- coffee-and derogatory, slangCheap, second-rate.
- crap slang, vulgarOf poor quality.
- crappo slangOf very low quality; crap, lousy.
- crappy vulgarOf very poor quality; unpleasant; distasteful.
- craptastic slang, vulgarOf extremely poor quality.
- crapperific slang, vulgarExtremely awful.
- craptabulous slang, vulgarExtremely awful.
- craptacular US, slangSpectacularly awful; so poor in quality as to become a spectacle.
- crummy informalBad; poor.
- dogwater slangExtremely bad or unskilled (especially at a video game); trash.
- dreckyTrashy, worthless.
- flimsyLikely to bend or break under pressure; easily damaged; frail, unsubstantial.
- fourth-rateTerrible, awful; less than third-rate.
- gash UK, slangOf poor quality; makeshift; improvised; temporary; substituted.
- garbageBad, crap, shitty.
- god-awfulExtremely awful, unpleasant or dreadful.
- inferiorOf low rank, standard or quality.
- lowNot high in status, esteem, or rank, dignity, or quality. (Compare vulgar.).
- low-gradeOf inferior quality.
- low-qualityOf poor quality; inferior.
- low-rentLow-quality, trashy.
- made in ChinaCheaply manufactured; of poor or low quality, (especially) if made in East Asia.
- mid slangTrashy; low-quality.
- one-starOf low quality; low-quality.
- pathetic
- poorOf low quality.
- poor man'sCheaper than, simpler than, a low-quality version of, or inferior to.
- pound-shop UK, derogatoryUsed to denote that something is low-quality or an inferior imitation.
- punkBad, substandard.
- rinky-dink US, informalOf poor quality; amateurish, shoddy, small-time.
- ropy Ireland, UKOf poor quality; in poor health.
- rubbish Australia, informalExceedingly bad; awful.
- sadPoor in quality, bad; shameful, deplorable; later, regrettable, poor.
- schlockyOf inferior quality, cheap.
- scrubbyInferior in size or quality.
- second-rateOf mediocre quality; not first-rate.
- slim UK, dialectalBad, of questionable quality; not strongly built, flimsy.
- subparOf less than a traditional or accepted standard.
- shit vulgarOf poor quality; worthless.
- shite Ireland, UKBad; awful; shit.
- shitty informal, vulgarVery bad; unpleasant; miserable; insignificant.
- substandardOf inferior quality; not meeting the minimum quality requirements.
- ticky-tacky USMade of this material; cheaply built, of low quality.
- tenth-rateOf extremely poor quality, godawful.
- third-ratePoor, shoddy; less than second-rate.
- tin-pot informalOf inferior quality; shoddy.
- trash
- trashyLike trash; having low quality and a perceived lack of depth, especially of books and films.
- under parBelow par.
- woefulWretched; paltry; poor.
- wretchedOf an inferior or unworthy nature or social status; contemptible, lowly.
- naughty obsoleteEvil, wicked, morally reprehensible.
- slazy archaicSleazy; of inferior quality.
- slight dialectal, obsoleteBad, of poor quality.
adjectiveUnfavorable; negative; not good.
- unfavorable
- negativeNot positive or neutral; bad; undesirable; unfavourable.
adjectiveNot suitable or fitting.
- inappropriate
- unfitNot fit; not having the correct requirements.
- discommensurateNot commensurate.
- improper
- malapropos formalOut of place; inappropriate.
- inaptNot apt.
- incommensurateOut of proportion (in size, degree or extent) with something else.
- inept
- inopportune
- out of line
- out of order
- out of place
- unapt
- unseemlyInconsistent with established standards of good form or taste.
- unsuitableNot suitable.
- unhappy datedNot suitable; unsuitable.
adjectiveHarmful, especially unhealthy; liable to cause health problems.
- unhealthfulNot promoting health; detrimental to health.
- unwholesome
- harmfulCausing or likely to cause harm or damage; injurious.
- damagingCausing damage; harmful, injurious.
- deleterious
- detrimentalCausing damage or harm.
- hurtful
- inimical
- injurious
- mischievous
- nocent
- nocuousLikely to cause harm or damage.
- noxiousHarmful; injurious.
- noisome
- prejudicial
- scathandHarmful; scathing.
- scathel
- sullen obsoleteMischievous; malignant; unpropitious.
- venom obsoletePoisonous, poisoned; (figuratively) pernicious.
adjectiveSickly, unhealthy, unwell.
- illExtremely bad (bad enough to make one ill). Generally used indirectly with to be.
- poorlyIll, unwell, sick.
- sickly
- ailingSickly; sick; ill; unwell.
- crank UK
- crook slangBad, unsatisfactory, not up to standard.
- green about the gillsIll or unwell, especially as indicated by one's appearance.
- ickyUnwell or upset; in a bad state of mind or health.
- indisposed
- infirm
- like death warmed overIll, unwell.
- off one's feed
- on the Pat and Mick slangSick; out of commission due to being unwell.
- out of sorts
- Pat and Mick slangSick.
Opposite of bad
adjectiveMore antonyms
- adequateEqual to or fulfilling some requirement.
- advantageousBeing of advantage, beneficial.
- beneficial
- benevolent
- choice
- competent
- excellent
- exceptional
- first-class
- first-rate
- good
- honest
- just
- premium
- prime
- profitable
- propitious
- reputableHaving a good reputation; honourable.
- right
- sincere
- sufficient
- superior
- true
- upright
- virtuousFull of virtue; having excellent moral character.
- worthy
- great
- positiveFavorable, desirable by those interested or invested in that which is being judged.
Meaning of bad
- adjective Of low quality.
- adjective Inaccurate; incorrect.
- adjective Unfavorable; negative; not good.
bad in other languages
Questions about synonyms of bad
- What is another word for bad?
- Bad has 120 synonyms on Word.ws, such as one-star, low-quality, low-grade, poor, second-rate, third-rate, cheap and fourth-rate.
- What is the opposite of bad?
- The opposite of bad is positive. Other antonyms of bad are adequate, just, reputable, advantageous and virtuous.
- What does bad mean?
- Bad means of low quality.
Source and license
Adapted from Wiktionary: bad (page history and authors) and the entries of the words listed. Text available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 license. Word.ws grouped the synonyms and antonyms by meaning and added links. Wiktionary data of 2026-09-02.
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Cite this page: “Synonyms of bad.” Word.ws, https://word.ws/synonyms/bad. Based on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.