Forms of the word worse

English[edit]

Alternative forms[edit]

• verse (Bermuda)

Etymology[edit]

From Middle English worse, werse, from Old English wiersa, from Proto-Germanic *wirsizô. Cognate with Dutch wers (“worse”).

Pronunciation[edit]

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /wɜːs/
• (US) IPA^(key): /wɝs/
• (US, New York City, archaic) IPA^(key): [wəɪs]
• Rhymes: -ɜː(ɹ)s

Adjective[edit]

worse

1. comparative form of bad: more bad

   Your exam results are worse than before.

   The harder you try, the worse you do.

2. comparative form of ill: more ill

   She was very ill last week but this week she’s worse.

Derived terms[edit]

• go from bad to worse
• worse for wear

[edit]

• worst

Translations[edit]

Adverb[edit]

worse

1. comparative form of badly (adverb): more badly

   • 2013 July 19, Ian Sample, “Irregular bedtimes may affect children’s brains”, in The Guardian Weekly, volume 189, number 6, page 34:

     Irregular bedtimes may disrupt healthy brain development in young children, according to a study of intelligence and sleeping habits.  ¶ Going to bed at a different time each night affected girls more than boys, but both fared worse on mental tasks than children who had a set bedtime, researchers found.

   He drives worse than anyone I know.

2. comparative form of ill: more ill.

   He’s worse-mannered than she is.

3. Less skillfully.
4. More severely or seriously.
5. (sentence adverb) Used to start a sentence describing something that is worse.

   Her leg is infected. Still worse, she’s developing a fever.

Translations[edit]

Verb[edit]

worse (third-person singular simple present worses, present participle worsing, simple past and past participle worsed)

1. (obsolete, transitive) To make worse; to put at disadvantage; to discomfit.

   • 1667, John Milton, “Book VI”, in Paradise Lost. […], London: […] [Samuel Simmons], […], →OCLC; republished as Paradise Lost in Ten Books: […], London: Basil Montagu Pickering […], 1873, →OCLC:

     Weapons more violent, when next we meet, / May serve to better us and worse our foes.

Noun[edit]

worse

1. (obsolete) Loss; disadvantage; defeat.
2. That which is worse; something less good.

   Do not think the worse of him for his enterprise.

Part or all of this entry has been imported from the 1913 edition of Webster’s Dictionary, which is now free of copyright and hence in the public domain. The imported definitions may be significantly out of date, and any more recent senses may be completely missing.
(See the entry for worse in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913)

Anagrams[edit]

• Rowse, WOREs, owers, owres, resow, rowse, serow, sower, sowre, swore

Afrikaans[edit]

Noun[edit]

worse

1. plural of wors

Chinese[edit]

Etymology[edit]

From English worse.

Pronunciation[edit]

• IPA^(key): /wœs⁵⁵/

Adjective[edit]

worse

1. (Hong Kong Cantonese) bad; terrible

   • 2012 January 20, quoting 楊千樺, “楊千嬅最壞打算屋企生”, in 東方日報‎^[1]:

     「醫生幫我搞好晒！應該冇問題卦！不過如果好worse嘅話，惟有用最古老方法喺屋企生囉！咁突發都估計唔到架！」

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

   • 2020 January 22, quoting 馬仲儀, “【武漢肺炎大爆發】新病毒與冬季流感同時殺到 前線醫護憂隱性個案爆發”, in 眾新聞‎^[2]:

     「逼到你伸開隻手就掂到對方（鄰床病人），好worse㗎嘛。」

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

   • 2020 May 31, quoting 阿然, “【香港的傷痕】一名大學生的四件事——上Gear、被捕、求醫、見官”, in 獨立媒體‎^[3]:

     「如果我變返做勇武，咁情況一定好worse（糟糕），有啲嘢令我睇唔過眼。」

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

   • 2022 May 27, quoting 黃世英, “【母親節】乳癌化療期再染新冠撐過痛楚　媽媽：只想三代同堂樂聚天倫”, in 香港經濟日報 TOPick‎^[4]:

     自己當時懷孕近九個月，而疫情嚴重，不方便外出，一想到不能探望、買物資送給在家隔離的媽媽，心裡非常擔憂，睇唔到佢幾辛苦，我又大住肚，嗰日喊咗一個朝早，覺得好無助，世界好worse（糟糕），公立醫院冇晒資源。

     (please add an English translation of this quote)

хуже, сильнее, худший, худшее

наречие ↓

прилагательное ↓

существительное ↓

Словосочетания

a nation ruled by a series of despotic rulers, each seemingly worse than the last — страна, которой управлял целый ряд правителей-деспотов, каждый из который казался хуже прошлого  
change for the worse — перемена к худшему, ухудшение, падение, регресс, спад  
in drink, the worse for drink — в пьяном виде, пьяный  
much worse — намного хуже  
not a penny the worse — нисколько не хуже  
to be worse than one’s word — нарушать слово  
change / turn for the worse — перемена к худшему  
worse than death — очень плохой  
a degree better / worse — чуть лучше / хуже  
to take a turn for the worse — измениться к худшему, ухудшиться  
to make somebody worse — залечивать  

Примеры с переводом

Примеры, ожидающие перевода

Фразовые глаголы

Возможные однокоренные слова

worsen  — ухудшаться, ухудшать

What is the difference between worst and worse?

There are few things worse than bad writing. But the worst is when writers confuse words like “worse” and “worst.” Either term is a comparative or superlative adjective for “bad” and “ill,” but that doesn’t mean we can use them interchangeably. 

Since “worse” and “worst” are comparative and superlative adjectives, they ultimately represent varying degrees of ‘bad’ or ‘ill.’ For instance, “worse” is ‘more bad,’ while “worst” is the ‘most bad.’ 

In addition to their adjective forms, we can also use the word “worse” as a noun or adverb, and “worst” as an adverb, noun, or verb. But as complicated as this looks, the general difference between the words stays the same: 

• Worse = ‘more bad’ than bad/ill 
• Worst = the ‘most bad’ 

It’s easy to see how English speakers confuse “worse” and “worst.” The words are homophones, which means they have similar spellings and pronunciations, but carry different meanings. The Word Counter covers similar word similarities within articles like “affective vs. effective” and “past vs. passed.” 

Worse and worst are also irregular adjectives, which means the words ‘bad’ and ‘ill’ don’t follow regular adjective patterns. For instance, we usually add “-er” or “-est” to the end of adjectives to indicate comparative and superlative forms (e.g., short, shorter, shortest). 

What does worse mean?

English speakers primarily use the term worse as a comparative adjective to describe a noun that is of lower quality, ‘more bad,’ or ‘lesser’ than another. In this sense, the concept of “bad” or “ill” applies to negative attributes, such as: 

• Inferior value or lower standard
• Less desirable 
• Degree of difficulty
• Lack of skill or efficiency 
• More severe or serious 
• More corrupt, evil, or reprehensible 
• A poorer state of health 

Example sentences include, 

“I feel worse today than I did yesterday.” 
“You’re worse than your brother.” 
“The food tastes worse when you order to-go.”
“I’m not sure things could get any worse.”

Worse as a noun

As a mass noun, the word worse describes a person, place, or thing that is ‘more serious,’ ‘more unpleasant,’ or ‘less favorable.’ For example,

“His health took a turn for the worse.” 
“There’s worse that could happen.”
“I’ve been through worse than this.” 

Worse as an adverb

The adverb form of worse modifies other adverbs, adjectives, or verbs to imply ‘in a worse manner,’ ‘extent,’ or ‘what is worse.’ For example, 

“The less you sleep, the worse you’ll feel.” 
“Folks are worse prepared than ever before.” 
“They could have played a lot worse than we did.”

Synonyms of worse

Common, deficient, inferior, lame, lesser, lousy, lower, mediocre, normal, ordinary, substandard, poor, unsatisfactory, wanting, worst. 

Antonyms of worse

Exceptional, extraordinary, incomparable, nonpareil, rare, uncommon, unequaled, unmatched, unrivaled, unusual, unsurpassable. 

Etymology of worse

“Worse” entered the English Language via Old English wiersa and wyrsa (adjectives) and wiers (adverb) Originally a form of Old High German (‘wirsiro’), the term transitioned again in Middle English as ‘werse’ and ‘worse.’ 

What does worst mean?

The word worst is a superlative adjective of “bad” and “ill” to describe something of the lowest standard or highest severity. 

Sentence examples include, 

“He was the worst Uber driver ever.” 
“This is the worst thing that’s ever happened to me.”
“The memo reiterated my worst fears.” 

Worst as an adverb

As an adverb, the word worst modifies other adverbs, adjectives, and verbs to describe a high degree of inferiority, corruption, or distaste. For example, 

“Students are the worst affected by COVID school closures.” 
“Pickling is the worst-smelling hobby .” 
“Oregon regions worst hit by snow include Pendleton and Ontario.”

Worst as a noun

The noun form of worst describes someone or something that is “the worst.” For example, 

“Isn’t she the worst?” 
“I fear the worst is yet to come.”
“Worst-case scenario, we can take a cab instead of the train.”

Worst as a verb

The verb worst defines the act of ‘getting the better of,’ defeating, or achieving victory over another. Additional verb forms include worsted, worsting, or worsts. For example, 

“The Portland Trail Blazers worsted the Philadelphia 76ers in 1977.” 
“The soldiers spent the week worsting their enemies.”

Synonyms of worst

Adj., adverb, noun: Atrocious, awful, bad, deficient, dissatisfactory, inferior, lesser, ordinary, routine, rotten, wanting, worse, vile. 

Verb: Annihilate, beat, conquer, defeat, master, overcome, prevail, subdue, surmount, sweep, triumph.

Antonyms of worst

Adj., adverb, noun: Exceptional, extraordinary, incomparable, rare, uncommon, unequaled, unmatched, unsurpassed, unusual. 

Verb: Collapse, fail, fall, flop, fold, give up, go under, lose. 

Etymology of worst

Modern English adapted “worst” from Middle English werste and worste and Old English wierresta and wystra. Both Old English forms represent the superlative forms of Old English wiersa for ‘worse.’ 

Worst vs. worse: understanding comparative and superlative adjectives

All adjectives contain comparative and superlative forms. Comparative adjectives describe the difference between the two nouns they modify (e.g., harder, better, faster, stronger). Superlative adjectives compare objects on a scale of upper to lower quality standards (e.g., hardest, best, fastest, strongest). But since “worst” and “worse” are irregular adjectives, their comparative and superlative forms don’t follow typical English grammar. 

Regular adjectives

Regular adjectives develop into comparative and superlative forms based on their number of syllables. Adjectives with one syllable follow a pattern of adding an -er for the comparative form and an -est for the superlative. 

Adjective: “cute”

Comparative: “cuter”

Superlative: “cutest.”

If an adjective contains two or more syllables, the original adjective doesn’t always change. Instead, the words “more” and “most” precede adjectives for the comparative and superlative forms, respectively. For example, 

Adjective: “exclusive”

Comparative: “more exclusive”

Superlative: “most exclusive.” 

English grammar poses an exception for certain two-syllable adjectives. If the adjective ends with -y, -ow, -er, -le-, we add an -er or -est for the comparative form and -est for the superlative forms. 

Adjective: “pretty”

Comparative: “prettier” 

Superlative: “prettiest” 

Adjective: “noble”

Comparative: “nobler” 

Superlative: “noblest” 

Adjective: “low”

Comparative: “lower” 

Superlative: “lowest” 

Irregular adjectives

Irregular comparative and superlative adjectives don’t follow a set pattern. Instead, they transform the original adjective into a unique comparative or superlative form. For example, 

Adjective: “good”

Comparative: “better”

Superlative: “best”

Adjective: “little”

Comparative: “less”

Superlative: “least”

When it comes to “worse” and “worst,” the irregular adjectives are “bad” and “ill.” Under normal conditions, we would add ‘-er’ or ‘-est’ for “badder” or “baddest.” But since “bad” and “ill” are irregular adjectives, we use “worse” for the comparative form and “worst” for the superlative form. 

Adjective: “bad/ill”

Comparative: “worse” or “iller” 

Superlative: “worst” or “illest”

How do you use worse and worst in a sentence?

To ensure correct usage of worse or worst, it’s important to remember two key factors: 

#1. Worse and worst = bad and ill

Worst and worse are extensions of the adjectives “bad” or “ill.” Therefore, anything that is “worse” or the “worst” carries a negative connotation. For example, 

“Are you feeling worse?” (illness)
“Brad is a worse writer than Kayla.” (unskilled)
“Skydiving is my worst fear.” (most severe) 
“Talking to family about politics is the worst.” (unpleasant) 

#2. Use worse or worst to compare nouns differently

Worse is a comparative adjective that compares one noun to another, while worst is a superlative adjective that compares one noun to a group of objects. For example, 

“Generic vitamins are worse than brand-name competitors.” (low quality) 
“Generic vitamins are the worst options available.” (lowest quality)

How to remember the difference between worse and worst?

There’s an old phrase in English that says, “if worst comes to worst” or “if worse comes to worst,” which means “if a bad situation becomes even worse,” or “worst-case scenario” (not worse case scenario).   

American English uses either phrase interchangeably, but we recommend memorizing “if worse comes to worst” to remember how “bad” can go to “worse,” and “worse” can go to “worst.” 

FAQ: Related to worse vs. worst

Is badder or baddest a word?

When the word “bad” (actually, as “baad”) conveys the “superabundance of good,” it no longer holds the same meaning of “worse” or “worst.” Therefore, many people resort to using “badder” or “baddest” as comparative and superlative forms. 

While dry “standard English” doesn’t yet recognize the use of “badder” and “baddest,” the terms are still common within Black American Vernacular (American English). English teachers may dock grammar points for using “badder” or “baddest,” but until the textbooks catch up, we say it’s perfectly correct to use these terms in this fashion. 

Is wurst an alternate spelling of worst?

A wurst is a type of sausage, but it sounds nearly the same as the word “worst” (aka, homophones). 

Test Yourself!

Test how well you understand the difference between worse and worst with the following multiple-choice questions. 

1. True or false: the adjective “worse” is the comparative form of “bad” or “ill.”
   a. True
   b. False
2. Which is not a superlative form of the adjective “ill”? 
   a. Baddest
   b. Worst
   c. Illest
   d. None of the above
3. If ___________ is ‘low quality,’ ___________ is the ‘lowest quality.’ 
   a. Iller, illest
   b. Worst, worse
   c. Badder, baddest
   d. Worse, worst
4. For the phrase “she’s the worst,” the word worst is a _____________.
   a. Adjective
   b. Adverb
   c. Noun
   d. All of the above
5. Which of the following phrases is incorrect? 
   a. If worse comes to worst
   b. Worse case scenario
   c. If worst comes to worst
   d. Worst case scenario

Answers

1. A
2. A
3. D
4. C
5. B

Sources

1. “If the worst comes to the worst.” Cambridge Dictionary, Cambridge University Press, 2020.
2. Kuehn, Paul R. “Homonyms, Homophones, and Homographs for ESL Students.” Owlcation, 18 May 2020. 
3. Kperogi, Farooq A. “Black American Vernacular English Expressions You Should Know.” USA Africa Dialogue Series, Google Groups, 26 Feb 2017. 
4. “The comparative and the superlative.” Resources for Learning English, EF Education First, 2020. 
5. “Worse.” Lexico, Oxford University Press, 2020.
6. “Worse.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 2020.
7. “Worst.” The Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster Inc., 2020.
8. “Worst.” The Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster Inc., 2020.

Example in English
Ultimate» makes everything worse.
Could have been worse.
And, to make matters worse, the Decepticons put a computerized lock on the door.
All your questions are just making things worse!
But the people who do not care about their friends are worse than scum
Ultimate» makes everything worse.
Could have been worse.
And, to make matters worse, the Decepticons put a computerized lock on the door.
All your questions are just making things worse!
But the people who do not care about their friends are worse than scum

Related

Not found

We have none.

Similar

Not found

We have none.

Similar but longer

Not found

We have none.

Other English verbs with the meaning similar to ‘worse’:

Language	Verb(s)	Language	Verb(s)
Spanish	agravarse,empeorarse

The words worse and worst are extremely useful. They are the main and often best way we can indicate that something is, well, more bad or most bad. But because they look and sound so similar, it can be easy to mix them up, especially in certain expressions.

In this article, we’ll break down the difference between worse and worst, explain how they relate to comparative and superlative adjectives (and what those are), and clear up confusion around which word is the correct one to use in some common expressions.

worse vs. worst

Worse and worst are different words, but both are forms of the adjective bad. Worse is the comparative form and worst is the superlative form.

A comparative adjective is typically used to compare two things. For example, My brother is bad at basketball, but honestly I’m worse.

A superlative adjective is used to compare more than two things (as in Out of the five exam I have today, this one is going to be the worst) or state that something is the most extreme out of every possible option (as in That was the worst idea I have ever heard).

Worse and worst are just like the words better and best, which are the comparative and superlative forms of the word good.

In most cases, the comparative form of an adjective is made by either adding -er to the end (faster, smarter, bigger, etc.) or adding the word more or less before it (more impressive, less powerful, etc.).

To form superlatives, it’s most common to add -est to the end of the word (fastest, smartest, biggest, etc.) or add most or least before it (most impressive, least powerful, etc.).

Worse and worst don’t follow these rules, but you can see a remnant of the superlative ending -est at the end of worst and best, which can help you remember that they are superlatives.

To learn a lot more about comparative and superlative adjectives, check out our amazing guide right here!

Worse is used in the expression from bad to worse, which means that something started bad and has only deteriorated in quality or condition, as in My handwriting has gone from bad to worse since I graduated high school.

Let’s look at some other common questions people have about expressions that use worse or worst.

Is it worse case or worst case?

The phrase worst case is used in the two idiomatic expressions: in the worst case and worst-case scenario. Both of these phrases refer to a situation that is as bad as possible compared to any other possible situation, which is why it uses the superlative form worst.

For example:

• In the worst case, the beams will collapse instantly.
• This isn’t what we expect to happen—it’s just the worst-case scenario.

While it’s possible for the words worse and case to be paired together in a sentence (as in Jacob had a worse case of bronchitis than Melanie did), it’s not a set expression like worst case is.

Is it if worse comes to worst or if worst comes to worst?

There are actually two very similar versions of the expression that means “if the worst possible outcome happens”: if worse comes to worst or if worst comes to worst. However, if worst comes to worst is much more commonly used (even though it arguably makes less sense).

Whatever form is used, the expression is usually accompanied by a proposed solution to the problem. For example:

• If worse comes to worst and every door is locked, we’ll get in by opening a window.
• I’m going to try to make it to the store before the storm starts, but if worst comes to worst, I’ll at least have my umbrella with me.

Examples of worse and worst used in a sentence

Let’s wrap things up by looking at some of the many different ways we can use worse and worst in a sentence.

• I think the pink paint looks worse on the wall than the red paint did.
• Out of all of us, Tom had the worst case of poison ivy.
• Debra Deer had a worse finishing time than Charlie Cheetah, but Sam Sloth had the worst time by far.
• My grades went from bad to worse after I missed a few classes.
• If worst comes to worst and we miss the bus, we’ll just hail a cab.
• It’s possible that the losses could lead to bankruptcy, but the company is doing everything it can to avoid this worst-case scenario.

Hope for the best as you take this quiz

How do you feel about the difference between worst and worse now that you’ve reviewed them? If you can distinguish between the comparative and superlative forms of bad, take this quiz to see how much you’ve learned.

See Also: worn-out worried worried well worriment worrisome worrit worry worry beads worryguts worrywart worse worsen worser worset Worship worship worshipful worssett worst worst-case worsted Recent searches: View All

Go to Preferences page and choose from different actions for taps or mouse clicks. From bad (adj): worse adj comparative worst adj superlative From badly (adv): worse adv comparative worst adv superlative From ill (adj): worse adj comparative worst adj superlative From ill (adv): worse adv comparative worst adv comparative WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023 worse /wɜrs/USA pronunciation   adj., comparative of  bad and ill. bad or ill to a greater extent; inferior:Your score is worse on this test than on yesterday’s. more unfavorable or injurious. in poorer health:The patient is worse than yesterday. n. [uncountable* usually: the + ~] something that is worse:a turn for the worse. adv. in a worse manner:The class behaved worse than ever just when the principal came in. to a worse degree:I feel much worse than yesterday. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023 worse  (wûrs),USA pronunciation adj., [comparative of] bad [and] ill.  bad or ill in a greater or higher degree; inferior in excellence, quality, or character. more unfavorable or injurious. in less good condition; in poorer health. n. that which is worse. adv. in a more evil, wicked, severe, or disadvantageous manner. with more severity, intensity, etc.; in a greater degree. bef. 900; Middle English (adjective, adjectival, adverb, adverbial, and noun, nominal); Old English wiersa (comparative adjective, adjectival), wiers (adverb, adverbial); cognate with Old Norse verri, Gothic wairsiza; see war2 Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: worse /wɜːs/ adj the comparative of bad1 none the worse for ⇒ not harmed by (adverse events or circumstances) the worse for wear ⇒ shabby or worn a slang term for drunk worse luck! ⇒ informal unhappily; unfortunately worse off ⇒ (postpositive) in a worse, esp a worse financial, condition n something that is worse for the worse ⇒ into a less desirable or inferior state or condition: a change for the worse adv in a more severe or unpleasant manner in a less effective or successful manner Etymology: Old English wiersa; related to Old Frisian werra, Old High German wirsiro, Old Norse verri, Gothic wairsiza WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023 bad1 /bæd/USA pronunciation   adj., worse/wɜrs/USA pronunciation  worst /wɜrst/USA pronunciation ; (Slang  ) bad•der, bad•dest for 16; n., adv.  adj. not good in any manner or degree:bad traffic. wicked or evil in character:the bad witch. of low or inferior quality; deficient:bad roads. disobedient or naughty:She was a very bad girl today. inaccurate; incorrect: a bad guess. causing injury or harm: Sugar is bad for the teeth. suffering from sickness, pain, or injury:He was so bad yesterday that he stayed in bed. diseased, decayed, or weakened: a bad heart. spoiled or rotten:The milk has gone bad. disagreeable; unpleasant: bad dreams. severe; intense: a bad flood. regretful, sorry, sad, or upset: He felt bad about leaving. showing or having a lack of skill or ability:What a bad actor! [ be + ~ + at]:I was really bad at drawing. unfortunate or unfavorable: bad news. [before a noun] (of a debt) unlikely to be paid and so treated as a loss:bad loans. Slang TermsSlang. outstandingly good; first-rate: He is one bad drummer. n. [uncountable] something that is bad:to take the bad with the good. adv. [Informal.]badly: She wanted it bad enough to steal it. Idioms Idioms badly or bad off, poor; destitute:They were badly off during the Depression. Idioms in a bad way, in severe trouble or distress:She’s in a bad way now. Idioms not (half, so, or too) bad, somewhat good; tolerable:not half bad for a first effort. Idioms too bad: (used to express regret or disappointment):You didn’t pass? Oh, that’s too bad. (used to express impatience or lack of concern ):You don’t like it here? Too bad. bad•ness, n. [uncountable] You can use the adjective bad, meaning «unpleasant, unattractive, unfavorable, spoiled, etc.,» after such verbs as sound, smell, look, and taste: The music sounds bad.The locker room smells bad. You look pretty bad; are you sick? After the rainstorm the water tasted bad. After the verb feel, you can also use the adjective badly when describing physical or emotional states: She was feeling badly that day. That use is considered standard, although bad is more common in formal writing. bad as an adverb appears mainly in informal situations: He wanted it pretty bad. See also badly, good. WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023 bad•ly /ˈbædli/USA pronunciation   adv., worse/wɜrs/USA pronunciation  worst /wɜrst/USA pronunciation   adj.  adv. in a bad way; incorrectly, inadequately, or unfavorably:speaks French badly; a marriage that turned out badly. in a wicked, evil, or morally wrong way. in a naughty or socially wrong way:behaved badly in front of the guests. to a great extent or degree; very much:wants the job badly. very unpleasantly; severely: was injured badly during the shootout. with great distress or emotional display: took the news badly. adj. in ill health; sick: He felt badly and had a high fever. sorry; regretful: I feel badly about your loss. Idioms Idioms badly off, [ be + ~] in need of:We are quite badly off for money. not having much money; poor. WordReference Random House Learner’s Dictionary of American English © 2023 ill /ɪl/USA pronunciation   adj., worse/wɜrs/USA pronunciation  worst /wɜrst/USA pronunciation   n., adv.  adj. Pathology sick; unwell; of poor health:[be + ~]She’s ill and won’t be in today. hostile; unkind:[before a noun]ill feeling. evil; wicked:[before a noun]ill deeds. unfavorable:[before a noun]ill fortune. n. an unfavorable opinion or statement:[uncountable]I can speak no ill of her. harm or injury:[uncountable]His remarks did much ill. trouble; misfortune:[countable]Many ills befell him. adv. unsatisfactorily; poorly; badly:It ill befits a person to betray friends. faultily; improperly:an ill-constructed house. with difficulty or inconvenience:an expense we can ill afford. The word ill can be used in combination with other adjectives or participles to mean «badly, improperly; inadequately:»ill- + considered → ill-considered (= not thought out well in advance;inappropriate);ill- + defined → ill-defined (= not well defined or clearly set out). Idioms Idioms ill at ease, uncomfortable; uneasy:When I first arrived at the party I felt very ill at ease because I didn’t know anyone. speak ill of, [~ + object] to say unfriendly or unpleasant things about:unwise to speak ill of the dead. ill is an adjective, illness is a noun: He was feeling ill. He had a strange illness. I’ll /aɪl/USA pronunciation Pronounscontraction of I will; I shall. Ill.,  an abbreviation of: Place NamesIllinois. ill.,  an abbreviation of: illustrated. illustration. illustrator. WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023 bad1  (bad),USA pronunciation adj., worse, worst;  (Slang) bad•der, bad•dest for 36; n.; adv.  adj. not good in any manner or degree. having a wicked or evil character; morally reprehensible:There is no such thing as a bad boy. of poor or inferior quality; defective; deficient:a bad diamond; a bad spark plug. inadequate or below standard; not satisfactory for use:bad heating; Living conditions in some areas are very bad. inaccurate, incorrect, or faulty:a bad guess. invalid, unsound, or false:a bad insurance claim; bad judgment. causing or liable to cause sickness or ill health; injurious or harmful:Too much sugar is bad for your teeth. suffering from sickness, ill health, pain, or injury; sick; ill:He felt bad from eating the green apples. not healthy or in good physical condition; diseased, decayed, or physically weakened:A bad heart kept him out of the army. tainted, spoiled, or rotten, esp. to the point of being inedible:The meat is bad because you left it out of the refrigerator too long. having a disastrous or detrimental effect, result, or tendency; unfavorable:The drought is bad for the farmers. His sloppy appearance made a bad impression. causing or characterized by discomfort, inconvenience, uneasiness, or annoyance; disagreeable; unpleasant:I had a bad flight to Chicago. easily provoked to anger; irascible:a bad temper. cross, irritable, or surly:If I don’t have my morning coffee, I’m in a bad mood all day. more uncomfortable, persistent, painful, or dangerous than usual; severe:a bad attack of asthma. causing or resulting in disaster or severe damage or destruction:a bad flood. regretful, contrite, dejected, or upset:He felt bad about having to leave the children all alone. disobedient, naughty, or misbehaving:If you’re bad at school, you’ll go to bed without supper. disreputable or dishonorable:He’s getting a bad name from changing jobs so often. displaying a lack of skill, talent, proficiency, or judgment:a bad painting; Bad drivers cause most of the accidents. causing distress; unfortunate or unfavorable:I’m afraid I have bad news for you. not suitable or appropriate; disadvantageous or dangerous:It was a bad day for fishing. inclement; considered too stormy, hot, cold, etc.:We had a bad winter with a lot of snow. disagreeable or offensive to the senses:a bad odor. exhibiting a lack of artistic sensitivity:The room was decorated in bad taste. not in keeping with a standard of behavior or conduct; coarse:bad manners. Linguistics(of a word, speech, or writing) vulgar, obscene, or blasphemous:bad language. not properly observing rules or customs of grammar, usage, spelling, etc.; incorrect:He speaks bad English. unattractive, esp. because of a lack of pleasing proportions:She has a bad figure. (of the complexion) marred by defects; pockmarked or pimply; blemished:bad skin. not profitable or worth the price paid:The land was a bad buy. Communications, Businessdeemed uncollectible or irrecoverable and treated as a loss:a bad debt. ill-spent; wasted:Don’t throw good money after bad money. counterfeit; not genuine:There was a bad ten-dollar bill in with the change. having the character of a villain; villainous:In the movies the good guys always beat the bad guys. Sportfailing to land within the in-bounds limits of a court or section of a court; missing the mark; not well aimed. Slang Termsoutstandingly excellent; first-rate:He’s a bad man on drums, and the fans love him. Idiomsin a bad way, in severe trouble or distress. Idioms not bad: tolerably good; not without merit:The dinner wasn’t bad, but I’ve had better. not difficult:Once you know geometry, trigonometry isn’t bad.Also, not so bad, not too bad.  Idioms too bad, unfortunate or disappointing:It’s too bad that he didn’t go to college. n. that which is bad:You have to take the bad with the good. a bad condition, character, or quality:His health seemed to go from bad to worse. (used with a pl. v.) evil persons collectively (usually prec. by the):The bad are always stirring up trouble. Idioms go to the bad, to deteriorate physically or morally; go to ruin:She wept at seeing her son go to the bad. in bad, [Informal.] in trouble or distress. in disfavor:He’s in bad with his father-in-law. Idioms to the bad, in arrears:He’s $100 to the bad on his debt. adv. Informal. badly:He wanted it bad enough to steal it. Idioms bad off, in poor or distressed condition or circumstances; destitute:His family has been pretty bad off since he lost his job.Also, badly off. Cf. well-off. Middle English badde, perh. akin to Old English bæddel hermaphrodite, bædling womanish man 1250–1300 bad′ness, n.  2.See corresponding entry in Unabridged depraved, corrupt, base, sinful, criminal, atrocious. Bad, evil, ill, wicked are closest in meaning in reference to that which is lacking in moral qualities or is actually vicious and reprehensible. Bad is the broadest and simplest term:a bad man; bad habits.Evil applies to that which violates or leads to the violation of moral law:evil practices.Ill now appears mainly in certain fixed expressions, with a milder implication than that in evil:ill will; ill-natured.Wicked implies willful and determined doing of what is very wrong:a wicked plan. 10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged putrefied. 21.See corresponding entry in Unabridged adverse, unlucky, unhappy. The adjective bad meaning «unpleasant, unattractive, unfavorable, spoiled, etc.,» is the usual form to follow such copulative verbs as sound, smell, look, and taste: After the rainstorm the water tasted bad. The coach says the locker room smells bad. After the copulative verb feel, the adjective badly in reference to physical or emotional states is also used and is standard, although bad is more common in formal writing:I feel bad from overeating.She felt badly about her friend’s misfortune.When the adverbial use is required, badly is standard with all verbs:She reacted badly to the criticism.Bad as an adverb appears mainly in informal contexts:I didn’t do too bad on the tests.He wants money so bad it hurts.See also badly, good.  bad2  (bad),USA pronunciation v. [Archaic.] a pt. of bid.  bad,1 +n. my bad, My fault! My mistake! WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023 bad•ly  (bad′lē),USA pronunciation adv., worse, worst, adj.  adv. in a defective, incorrect, or undesirable way:The car runs badly. in an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unskilled manner:a vague, badly written letter; He paints badly. unfavorably:His neighbors spoke badly of him. The weather turned out badly for the cruise. in a wicked, evil, or morally or legally wrong way. in a disobedient, naughty, or ethically or socially wrong way:He treats his parents badly. very much; to a great extent or degree:a house badly in need of repair; to want something badly. severely; direly:to be injured badly. with great distress, resentment, regret, or emotional display:She took the news of her mother’s death badly. Idioms badly off. See bad (def. 47). adj. in ill health; sick:He felt badly. sorry; regretful:I feel badly about your reaction to my remark. dejected; downcast. Middle English baddeli. See bad1, —ly 1350–1400 In the sense «very much,» badly is fully standard:He needs help badly.See also bad.  WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2023 ill  (il),USA pronunciation adj., worse, worst, n., adv.  adj. Pathologyof unsound physical or mental health; unwell; sick:She felt ill, so her teacher sent her to the nurse. objectionable; unsatisfactory; poor; faulty:ill manners. hostile; unkindly:ill feeling. evil; wicked; bad:of ill repute. unfavorable; adverse:ill fortune. of inferior worth or ability; unskillful; inexpert:an ill example of scholarship. Idioms ill at ease, socially uncomfortable; nervous:They were ill at ease because they didn’t speak the language. n. an unfavorable opinion or statement:I can speak no ill of her. harm or injury:His remarks did much ill. trouble, distress, or misfortune:Many ills befell him. evil:to know the difference between good and ill. Pathologysickness or disease. adv. in an ill manner. unsatisfactorily; poorly:It ill befits a man to betray old friends. in a hostile or unfriendly manner. unfavorably; unfortunately. with displeasure or offense. faultily; improperly. with difficulty or inconvenience; scarcely:Buying a new car is an expense we can ill afford. Old Norse illr (adjective, adjectival) ill, bad Middle English ill(e) (noun, nominal and adjective, adjectival) 1150–1200 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged unhealthy, ailing, diseased, afflicted. Ill, sick mean being in bad health, not being well. Ill is the more formal word. In the U.S. the two words are used practically interchangeably except that sick is always used when the word modifies the following noun:He looks sick(ill); a sick person. In England, sick is not interchangeable with ill, but usually has the connotation of nauseous:She got sick and threw up.sick, however, is used before nouns just as in the U.S.:a sick man. 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged wrong, iniquitous. See bad 1. 9.See corresponding entry in Unabridged hurt, pain, affliction, misery. 10.See corresponding entry in Unabridged calamity. 11.See corresponding entry in Unabridged depravity. 12.See corresponding entry in Unabridged illness, affliction. 14.See corresponding entry in Unabridged badly. 1.See corresponding entry in Unabridged well, healthy. 4.See corresponding entry in Unabridged good. I’ll  (īl),USA pronunciation Pronounscontraction of I will. See contraction.  Ill., Place NamesIllinois. ill., illustrated. illustration. illustrator. most illustrious. Latin illustrissimus (def. 4) Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: bad /bæd/ adj (worse, worst) not good; of poor quality; inadequate; inferior (often followed by at) lacking skill or talent; incompetent: a bad painter, bad at sports (often followed by for) harmful immoral; evil naughty; mischievous; disobedient rotten; decayed; spoiled: a bad egg severe; intense: a bad headache incorrect; wrong; faulty: bad pronunciation ill or in pain (esp in the phrase feel bad) regretful, sorry, or upset (esp in the phrase feel bad about) unfavourable; distressing: bad news, a bad business offensive; unpleasant; disagreeable: bad language, bad temper not valid or sound; void: a bad cheque not recoverable: a bad debt (badder, baddest) slang good; excellent go from bad to worse ⇒ to deteriorate even more go bad ⇒ to putrefy; spoil in a bad way ⇒ informal seriously ill, through sickness or injury in trouble of any kind make the best of a bad job ⇒ to manage as well as possible in unfavourable circumstances not bad, not so bad ⇒ informal passable; fair; fairly good too bad ⇒ informal (often used dismissively) regrettable n unfortunate or unpleasant events collectively (often in the phrase take the bad with the good) an immoral or degenerate state (often in the phrase go to the bad) the debit side of an account: £200 to the bad adv not standard badly: to want something bad Etymology: 13th Century: probably from bæd-, as the first element of Old English bǣddel hermaphrodite, bǣdling sodomite ˈbaddish adj ˈbadness n bad /bæd/ vb a variant of bade Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: badly /ˈbædlɪ/ adv (worse, worst) poorly; defectively; inadequately unfavourably; unsuccessfully; unfortunately: our scheme worked out badly severely; gravely: he was badly hurt incorrectly or inaccurately: to speak German badly improperly; naughtily; wickedly: to behave badly without humanity; cruelly: to treat someone badly very much (esp in the phrases need badly, badly in need of, want badly) regretfully: he felt badly about it badly off ⇒ poor; impoverished Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers:: ill /ɪl/ adj (worse, worst) (usually postpositive) not in good health; sick characterized by or intending evil, harm, etc; hostile: ill deeds causing or resulting in pain, harm, adversity, etc ascribing or imputing evil to something referred to: ill repute promising an unfavourable outcome; unpropitious: an ill omen harsh; lacking kindness: ill will not up to an acceptable standard; faulty: ill manners ill at ease ⇒ unable to relax; uncomfortable n evil or harm a mild disease misfortune; trouble adv badly: the title ill befits him with difficulty; hardly: he can ill afford the money not rightly: she ill deserves such good fortune Etymology: 11th Century (in the sense: evil): from Old Norse illr bad ‘worse‘ also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

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