10 Ways to Say that Something is Bad

We usually use the adjective 'bad' to say that something is badly made, of bad quality or harmful. 

It's also very common to describe films, books, food, products, events, experiences, weather, and so on, as being bad. 
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In this lesson, you will learn how to use 10 different adjectives and a verb phrase that can replace the word 'bad'. 

Let's look at the example sentences below. Look up the pronunciation of new words and practise. 

AWFUL (spoken; informal) (meaning: very bad or unpleasant) 

• We went on holiday in May but the weather was absolutely awful. It was raining all day. 
• Going there in summer was a really awful experience. The streets were busy with tourists and the weather was very humid. 
• Traffic in this area is awful. 
• 'Do you like this colour?' 'No, I think it's awful.' 

Note: Awful is not used with 'very'. You can use absolutely or really instead. 

TERRIBLE (meaning: very bad) 

• The journey was terrible – it took us eight hours to get there by train. 
• The food there is good but the service is terrible. 
• Can you write it down for me, please? I have a terrible memory. 
• Have you ever noticed how terrible doctors' handwriting can be? Much of what is written on prescriptions is impossible to read. 
• I have a terrible headache. 

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Note: Terrible is not used with 'very'. You can use absolutely instead. 

APPALLING (meaning: very bad, unpleasant and shocking) 

• The weather was absolutely appalling. (= very bad) 
• Your handwriting is appalling. I can barely understand anything. 
• It's important to raise awareness about Indian women working on tea plantations in the northeast part of the country. Plantation workers on tea gardens in Assam earn between $1.50 and $2 per day and live in appalling conditions. Workers' houses are old and have no access to sanitation facilities. Their children do not receive proper education and health care. 

Note: You can also use appalling ​when you talk about situation, crime, injury, etc. 

NEGATIVE (meaning: harmful, unpleasant) (used about effects or people's reaction to something) 

• Social media can have a negative effect on your mental health without you even realising. 
• Overexposure to sunlight can have negative effects on your skin such as sunburn and skin cancer. Don't forget to protect your skin from the sun. 
• Travelling helps you grow as a person and boosts your confidence but, on the negative side, it costs a lot. 
• There was a lot of negative feedback from viewers when the new TV show came out. 
• Globalisation has a negative impact on wages on developing countries. 

DETRIMENTAL (formal) (meaning: harmful) 

• People's reliance on social media can have a detrimental effect on their mental health. Those who use them too frequently can feel increasingly unhappy and isolated from others. 
• Air pollution can be detrimental to health. 

SERIOUS (meaning: very bad or dangerous) 

• Obesity is a serious problem in many Western countries. 
• Too much stress can have serious consequences for people's health. You cannot eliminate all stress from your life, but you can relieve some of it by doing exercises, meditation, or trying breathing exercises to help you relax. 
• Floods are considered one of the most expensive natural disasters. They can cause serious damage to crops, private property (including homes and businesses), public infrastructure like roads, rail networks, and many more. 

Note: Serious is used to talk about illnesses, problems, accidents, crimes, etc. You can use this word in more formal English.

POOR (meaning: not as good as it could be; a quality that is low or lower than expected) 

• Personally, I don't like driving when it's raining heavily because the visibility is really poor. 
• Checking social media platforms before bed can lead to poor quality of sleep. 
• Stress and lack of sleep are some of the main reasons for poor health. 
• A poor diet can affect people's health. 
• I decided not to buy that T-shirt because it was of very poor quality. (= not made well or not made of good materials) 
• It is extremely important for people to wash their hands frequently, especially before having a meal, because poor personal hygiene can lead to many diseases caused my germs. 

Note: Poor is more formal than bad. 
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UNPLEASANT (meaning: not pleasant or enjoyable) 

• Going to the dentist is a bit scary and I find it an unpleasant experience. 
• Replying to emails on a daily basis can be an unpleasant task. 
• Some people may feel unhappy at work and some of the reasons for that can be related to pay, colleagues, flexibility, chances for promotion, and so on. There will always be unpleasant circumstances, but the key is to find work rewarding enough. 

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BE A NIGHTMARE [verb phrase] (spoken; informal) (meaning: it is used to talk about an extremely bad experience or situation) 

• Filling in different forms in public institutions is a complete nightmare. 
• My neighbours are always noisy at the weekend and it's a real nightmare for me when I need to study or work at home. 
• Our holiday was a nightmare - our flights were delayed for hours, and stayed in hotels without any Wi-Fi. 

DESPERATE (meaning: a desperate situation is very bad; If you are desperate, it means you want or need something very much.) 

• ​We were in desperate need for money. 
• I was in a desperate situation with very little money. 
• Water pollution is becoming a serious problem around the world and some countries face a desperate shortage of clean water. 

Other lessons: 
10 Ways to Say that Something is Good 
English Lesson: Describing a Friend 
English Lesson: Talking about Childhood 
Commonly Used Phrases in Spoken English 

English conversation lessons: 
English Conversation: Socialising with people and working in coffee shops 
English Conversation: Buying sunscreen products at a store 

Click below to read some of our IELTS related lessons: 
IELTS Speaking Test: Means of Transport 
IELTS Speaking Test: Arriving Early and Being Patient 
IELTS Speaking Test: Places That Tourists Visit and Being a Tourist 
IELTS: Advantages and Disadvantages of Using the Internet 
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