16 Other Ways to Say Bad Things (With Examples)

You know how some words just feel a bit boring after you use them a hundred times? The word bad is exactly like that. If you want to make your stories or chats more exciting, you need some other ways to say bad things to keep people very interested.

16 Different Ways to Say Bad Things (With Examples)

Terrible

When something is really bad, you can use this word to show how much you dislike it. It carries a lot of weight and makes your feelings very clear to everyone listening. You might use it when a movie is not good or when you have a really rough day at work. It is a very common word that people use to express deep disappointment. Using it helps you sound more natural and expressive in your daily conversations with friends.

The food at the new cafe was truly terrible.
I had a terrible headache all through the night.
That was a terrible mistake to make right now.
We saw a terrible movie at the local cinema.
The weather yesterday was absolutely terrible for a picnic.
She felt terrible about forgetting your big birthday party.

Awful

This is a great word for when something feels unpleasant or even a little bit scary. It is stronger than just saying something is not good. You can use it to describe a smell, a taste, or even a very loud noise that bothers you. People will understand exactly how you feel when you choose this specific word. It helps you paint a much clearer picture in the mind of the person you are talking to today.

There was an awful smell coming from the old kitchen.
I think that was an awful thing to say.
The traffic this morning was just completely awful today.
She wore an awful dress to the fancy wedding.
That loud music is giving me an awful pain.
We had an awful time trying to find the house.

Horrible

If something makes you feel really uncomfortable or upset, you should call it horrible. This word is perfect for describing things that are very mean or very low quality. It has a strong sound to it that grabs attention immediately. You can use it when talking about a person who was rude or a situation that went wrong. It makes your stories sound much more emotional and very engaging for anyone who is listening to you.

That was a horrible experience for the whole family.
He told a horrible lie to his best friend.
The soup had a horrible taste of bitter herbs.
I saw a horrible accident on the main road.
Why are you being so horrible to your sister?
It was a horrible day because of the rain.

Dreadful

This word sounds a bit more serious and can be used for very sad or low quality events. It is a fantastic way to say that something was deeply disappointing or very poorly done. You might use it when talking about a performance or a very long and boring meeting. It adds a touch of drama to your speech which makes people want to hear more. It is a very smart choice for your vocabulary list.

The acting in that play was honestly quite dreadful.
We had some dreadful news about the old building.
It is a dreadful shame that you cannot come.
The service at the hotel was truly dreadful lately.
I spent a dreadful afternoon waiting in the cold.
This tea tastes dreadful because it is too strong.

Poor

When something is just not at a high level, you can describe it as poor. This is a very polite way to talk about low quality work or a lack of effort. It works well in a professional setting or when you are giving feedback to someone. It is not as harsh as other words but still gets the point across very well. You can use it to describe skills, health, or even the general condition of something.

The student showed a very poor level of focus.
This laptop has a very poor battery life now.
He is in poor health after the long winter.
The company has a poor reputation for helping customers.
That was a poor choice for a dinner spot.
Your grades are poor because you did not study.

Unpleasant

Sometimes things are not super bad but they are just not nice to be around. That is exactly when you should use the word unpleasant. It describes things that make you feel slightly unhappy or annoyed. It is a very soft word that is still very effective at showing your true feelings. You can use it for a cold breeze, a grumpy person, or a bitter taste. It is a very useful word for everyday talk.

The room had a very unpleasant and damp feeling.
I had an unpleasant talk with my angry boss.
There was an unpleasant noise coming from the engine.
The medicine left an unpleasant taste in my mouth.
It was an unpleasant surprise to see the bill.
She has a very unpleasant habit of biting nails.

Nasty

This is a word you use for things that are mean, dirty, or very gross. It is a very punchy word that people use when they really dislike something. You can use it to describe a mean comment someone made or a cut on your skin that looks bad. It is a very common word in casual talk. It helps people understand that you find something quite repulsive or very unkind. It is very descriptive.

He gave me a nasty look across the room.
That was a nasty fall on the hard ice.
I have a nasty cold that will not go.
The water in the pond looked green and nasty.
Do not be nasty to the new girl today.
That was a nasty trick to play on me.

Rotten

While this word is often used for food that has gone bad, you can also use it for feelings. If you are having a very bad day, you can say you feel rotten. It is a very conversational and friendly way to express that things are not going your way. It makes you sound very relatable to others. You can also use it to describe a person who does very mean things to people around them.

I feel absolutely rotten about what happened at work.
The weather has been rotten for the whole week.
That was a rotten thing to do to him.
We had a rotten time at the empty park.
He is a rotten apple in this big group.
The fruit in the bowl is soft and rotten.

Harsh

When something is very rough or too strong, the word harsh is the best choice. You can use it for a loud voice, a bright light, or very mean words. It describes things that feel a bit too much for your senses to handle. It is a very precise word that helps people understand the exact nature of the problem. Using it shows that you have a very good grasp of the English language and its many feelings.

The bright sun was very harsh on my eyes.
She used very harsh words during the big fight.
The winter wind felt harsh against my cold face.
That was a harsh punishment for a small mistake.
The soap was too harsh for my sensitive skin.
He has a very harsh way of speaking loudly.

Atrocious

This is a big word that means something is extremely bad or of very low quality. It is a fun word to say and it really emphasizes your point. You might use it when someone's handwriting is very messy or when the weather is at its worst. It sounds a bit more fancy but is still very easy to understand. It is a great way to add some variety to your writing and your speech right now.

Your spelling in the test was honestly quite atrocious.
The weather in the city today is just atrocious.
She has an atrocious taste in modern pop music.
The food at that party was truly atrocious quality.
He performed an atrocious song on the karaoke machine.
The conditions in the old jail were very atrocious.

Vile

When something is so bad that it makes you feel sick or very angry, you call it vile. This is a very strong word for things that are disgusting or truly evil. It is not a word you use every day, which makes it very powerful when you do. It shows that you have a very strong opinion about something. You can use it for a terrible smell or a very wicked person in a story.

The villain in the movie was a vile person.
There was a vile liquid leaking from the trash.
I think his behavior towards the dog was vile.
The smell from the old drain was simply vile.
He told a vile story that upset the guests.
That was a vile thing to say to her.

Grim

This word is perfect for describing a situation that looks very dark or hopeless. It is often used when things are serious and not very fun at all. If you see a place that looks grey and sad, you can say it looks grim. It helps set a very specific mood in your writing. People will feel the weight of your words when you choose this one. It is very effective for storytelling and for giving updates.

The future of the small company looks very grim.
He had a grim look on his tired face.
The news from the hospital was quite grim today.
It was a grim day with clouds and rain.
The room was empty and looked very grim indeed.
We faced a grim choice during the long hike.

Inferior

If you are comparing two things and one is not as good, you can call it inferior. This word is often used for products or tools that do not work well. It is a very clear and logical way to say something is bad. It sounds a bit more formal but is still very easy for everyone to understand. It is great for reviews or when you are explaining why you prefer one thing over another thing.

This cheap plastic is an inferior material for building.
I felt inferior to the other players on team.
The sound on this phone is of inferior quality.
They sold us an inferior product for high price.
Never accept an inferior version of your big dreams.
These tools are inferior to the ones I own.

Faulty

When something is bad because it is broken or does not work right, use the word faulty. This is mostly used for machines, electronics, or pieces of logic. It tells the listener that there is a specific problem that needs to be fixed. It is a very helpful word for describing technical issues in a simple way. You can use it to explain why a light won’t turn on or why a plan failed.

The fire alarm went off because of faulty wiring.
I had to return the faulty heater to shop.
Your logic in this argument is a bit faulty.
The car crashed because it had a faulty brake.
We received a faulty batch of new computer chips.
That was a faulty light bulb in the lamp.

Substandard

This word means that something is below the level that is usually expected. It is a very professional way to say that something is bad or not good enough. You might see this word in reports or in news stories about buildings or food. It shows that there are rules or levels that were not met. It is a very strong and clear way to describe a failure in quality or in safety.

The housing conditions in the area were very substandard.
He provided a substandard service to all the clients.
The school was closed due to its substandard facilities.
I will not pay for such a substandard meal.
The work you did on this was quite substandard.
We cannot use these substandard parts for the jet.

Crummy

If you want a very casual and friendly word, crummy is a perfect choice for you. It is a very cozy way to say that something is cheap, old, or just not very good. You can use it when talking to your friends about a bad hotel room or a boring party. it makes you sound very relaxed and easy to talk to. It is one of those words that everyone knows and enjoys using often.

I stayed in a crummy little motel by road.
That was a crummy thing to say to me.
I feel a bit crummy after eating that cake.
We had a crummy seat at the back row.
This is a crummy umbrella that always breaks down.
He gave me a crummy gift for my wedding.

16 Other Ways To Say Bad Things (With Examples)

Final Thoughts

I hope you enjoyed learning these new words to help you describe things that are not very good. Using different words makes your speaking and writing much more fun for everyone. You can now choose the perfect word for any situation you find. Whether you want to sound professional or just chat with your friends, these tips will help you a lot. Please try to use one of these new words today to see how much better your stories can truly become.