Top 58 Slang For Bad – Meaning & Usage

When it comes to expressing dissatisfaction or describing something negative, there are countless slang words and phrases that people use. Whether you’re looking to expand your vocabulary or simply stay up-to-date with the latest lingo, we’ve got you covered. In this listicle, we’ve gathered the top slang for “bad” that you need to know. From describing a disappointing situation to expressing disapproval, this compilation will have you speaking the language of the cool kids in no time. So, buckle up and get ready to explore the world of badness like never before!

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1. Trash

This is a term used to describe something that is considered worthless or of extremely poor quality.

For example, “That movie was absolute trash. I can’t believe I wasted my money on it.”
A person might say, “I tried that new restaurant and the food was complete trash.”
Another might comment, “This song is pure trash. I can’t believe it’s so popular.”

2. Crap

This slang term is used to describe something that is considered to be of poor quality or not worth much.

For instance, “I can’t believe they expect us to pay for this crap.”
A person might say, “I tried that new skincare product and it did absolute crap for my skin.”
Another might comment, “The customer service at that store was crap. I’ll never shop there again.”

3. Lame

This slang term is used to describe something that is considered uncool, unimpressive, or disappointing.

For example, “That party was so lame. There was nothing fun to do.”
A person might say, “I thought the concert was going to be amazing, but it turned out to be lame.”
Another might comment, “The ending of that movie was really lame. It ruined the whole experience.”

4. Garbage

This term is used to describe something that is considered to be of extremely poor quality or value.

For instance, “I can’t believe they’re selling this garbage at such a high price.”
A person might say, “The customer service at that store is absolute garbage.”
Another might comment, “I tried that new hair product and it was complete garbage. It did nothing for my hair.”

5. Shitty

This slang term is used to describe something that is considered to be very bad, unpleasant, or of poor quality.

For example, “I had a really shitty day at work. Everything went wrong.”
A person might say, “I watched that movie and it was so shitty. I couldn’t stand it.”
Another might comment, “The weather this weekend is going to be really shitty. It’s going to rain the whole time.”

6. Awful

This word is used to describe something that is extremely bad or unpleasant. It emphasizes the strong negative feeling towards the subject.

For example, “The food at that restaurant was awful. I couldn’t even finish my meal.”
A person might say, “The weather today is awful. It’s pouring rain and cold.”
In a movie review, a critic might write, “The acting in this film was awful. It completely ruined the experience.”

7. Wack

This slang term is used to describe something that is considered to be weird, strange, or uncool. It is often used to express disapproval or disappointment.

For instance, “That outfit she’s wearing is wack. It doesn’t match at all.”
A person might say, “The party last night was wack. There was no music and nothing to do.”
In a conversation about music, someone might say, “I don’t understand why people like that artist. Their music is wack.”

8. Whack

This word is used to describe something that is considered to be crazy, bizarre, or out of the ordinary. It expresses surprise or disbelief.

For example, “Did you see that car crash? It was whack! I’ve never seen anything like it.”
A person might say, “I had the weirdest dream last night. It was so whack.”
In a discussion about unusual fashion trends, someone might say, “Those shoes are whack. Who would wear something like that?”

9. Crummy

This slang term is used to describe something that is of poor quality or not satisfactory. It conveys a sense of disappointment or dissatisfaction.

For instance, “The service at that restaurant was crummy. The waitstaff was rude and the food took forever.”
A person might say, “I bought this shirt online, but it turned out to be crummy quality. The fabric is thin and it started falling apart after one wash.”
In a conversation about a disappointing movie, someone might say, “The special effects in that film were crummy. They looked so fake.”

10. Rotten

This word is used to describe something that is extremely bad or unpleasant. It emphasizes a strong negative feeling towards the subject.

For example, “The smell in the garbage bin is rotten. It’s unbearable.”
A person might say, “I feel rotten today. I have a terrible headache and can’t focus.”
In a discussion about a failed business venture, someone might say, “The whole project was rotten. It was poorly planned and executed.”

11. Lousy

This word is used to describe something that is very bad or of low quality.
-For example, “The service at that restaurant was lousy. The food took forever to come out and was cold when it finally arrived.”
-Another example, “I had a lousy day at work. Everything went wrong and I couldn’t wait to go home.”
-In a review, someone might say, “The movie was lousy. The acting was terrible and the plot made no sense.”

12. Sucky

This slang term is used to describe something that is unpleasant, disappointing, or of poor quality.
-For instance, “The weather this weekend is going to be sucky. It’s going to rain the whole time.”
-Another example, “I had a sucky experience at the concert. The sound quality was terrible and I couldn’t see anything.”
-In a conversation, someone might say, “This job is really sucky. The hours are long and the pay is low.”

13. Bogus

This word is used to describe something that is fake, not genuine, or deceptive.
-For example, “That website is full of bogus information. You can’t trust anything you read there.”
-Another example, “He tried to sell me a bogus Rolex watch. It looked real, but it was actually a cheap imitation.”
-In a conversation, someone might say, “Don’t believe his promises. They’re totally bogus.”

14. Dismal

This word is used to describe something that is gloomy, depressing, or lacking in success.
-For instance, “The weather forecast for tomorrow is dismal. It’s going to be raining all day.”
-Another example, “The team’s performance in the game was dismal. They lost by a large margin and made many mistakes.”
-In a review, someone might say, “The play was a dismal failure. The acting was subpar and the story was confusing.”

15. Subpar

This slang term is used to describe something that is below average or not up to standard.
-For example, “The service at that restaurant was subpar. The waitstaff was slow and inattentive.”
-Another example, “His performance in the play was subpar. He forgot his lines and seemed disinterested.”
-In a conversation, someone might say, “The quality of their products is subpar. I wouldn’t recommend buying from them.”

16. Mediocre

This term is used to describe something that is neither good nor bad, but rather falls in between. It suggests that the quality or performance is lacking or subpar.

For example, “The movie received mediocre reviews from critics.”
A person might say, “The food at that restaurant was mediocre at best.”
Someone might comment, “I was expecting more from the game, but it was just mediocre.”

17. Terrible

This word is used to describe something that is of very poor quality, extremely unpleasant, or completely unsatisfactory.

For instance, “The weather was terrible, with heavy rain and strong winds.”
A person might say, “I had a terrible experience at that hotel, with rude staff and dirty rooms.”
Someone might comment, “The food at that restaurant was terrible, I couldn’t even finish my meal.”

18. Horrible

This term is used to describe something that is extremely unpleasant, causing discomfort, fear, or disgust.

For example, “I had a horrible nightmare last night, it felt so real.”
A person might say, “That movie was so horrible, I couldn’t even watch until the end.”
Someone might comment, “The smell in the room was horrible, I had to leave immediately.”

19. Shoddy

This word is used to describe something that is of low quality, poorly made, or done with little care or effort.

For instance, “The furniture they sold was shoddy, it started falling apart after a few months.”
A person might say, “The construction work was shoddy, with crooked walls and uneven floors.”
Someone might comment, “The customer service was shoddy, they didn’t respond to any of my inquiries.”

20. Pathetic

This term is used to describe something or someone that is sad, pitiful, or deserving of sympathy or pity. It suggests a sense of weakness, inadequacy, or failure.

For example, “He made a pathetic attempt to win the race, finishing last by a large margin.”
A person might say, “Her excuses for not doing the work were pathetic, she just didn’t want to put in the effort.”
Someone might comment, “The team’s performance was pathetic, they didn’t even score a single goal.”

21. Crappy

This word is used to describe something that is of poor quality or not up to standard.

For example, “I bought this crappy phone and it keeps freezing.”
A person might complain, “The service at that restaurant was really crappy.”
Another might say, “I had a crappy day at work today.”

22. Raunchy

This term is used to describe something that is sexually explicit or offensive in a vulgar way.

For instance, “They played some raunchy songs at the party.”
A person might describe a movie as, “It was filled with raunchy humor.”
Another might say, “I can’t believe she told that raunchy joke in public.”

23. Ratchet

This slang term is used to describe something that is in a state of disarray or disorder.

For example, “Her room is so ratchet, clothes everywhere.”
A person might complain, “The party got really ratchet, people were breaking things.”
Another might say, “I can’t stand working in such a ratchet environment.”

24. Janky

This word is used to describe something that is not functioning properly or is of low quality.

For instance, “This janky old car keeps breaking down.”
A person might say, “I bought this janky phone and it barely works.”
Another might complain, “The website is so janky, it’s always crashing.”

25. Shambolic

This term is used to describe something that is in a state of complete disorder or chaos.

For example, “The event was shambolic, nothing went according to plan.”
A person might describe a situation as, “It’s a shambolic mess, nobody knows what they’re doing.”
Another might say, “The company’s finances are in a shambolic state.”

26. Dopey

This term is used to describe someone or something that is unintelligent or lacking common sense. It can also refer to a feeling of being drowsy or sluggish.

For example, “He made a dopey mistake and got caught.”
A person might say, “I feel so dopey after staying up all night.”
Another might comment, “That was a dopey decision to make.”

27. Bogged

This slang term is used to describe a situation where someone or something is unable to move or escape from a difficult or challenging situation.

For instance, “My car got bogged in the mud.”
A person might say, “I’m feeling bogged down by all these assignments.”
Another might comment, “We’re bogged in a never-ending meeting.”

28. Dumpy

This word is used to describe something that is unattractive, shabby, or in poor condition. It can refer to a person, place, or thing.

For example, “She lives in a dumpy apartment.”
A person might say, “I feel dumpy in this old outfit.”
Another might comment, “That’s a dumpy-looking car.”

29. Rinky-dink

This slang term is used to describe something that is small, cheap, or of low quality. It can refer to a person, place, or thing.

For instance, “Don’t buy that rinky-dink toy, it will break in no time.”
A person might say, “I work in a rinky-dink office.”
Another might comment, “This rinky-dink town has nothing to do.”

30. Rinky

This word is a shortened form of “rinky-dink” and is used to describe something that is small, unimportant, or of little consequence.

For example, “Don’t worry about it, it’s just a rinky problem.”
A person might say, “I live in a rinky town with no entertainment options.”
Another might comment, “That was a rinky excuse for being late.”

31. Shonky

Shonky is an Australian slang term used to describe something that is of poor quality or not trustworthy. It can refer to a person, thing, or situation.

For example, “That mechanic did a shonky job on my car. It broke down again the next day.”
A person might say, “I bought this shonky phone online and it stopped working after a week.”
In a discussion about a sketchy business, someone might comment, “Their practices seem shonky. I wouldn’t trust them.”

32. Craptastic

Craptastic is a slang word that combines “crap” and “fantastic” to describe something that is so bad or of such low quality that it becomes amusing or remarkable in its awfulness.

For instance, “I watched this craptastic movie last night. It was so bad, it was actually entertaining.”
A person might say, “I just ate at this craptastic restaurant. The food was terrible, but the service was hilariously bad.”
In a discussion about a poorly made product, someone might comment, “I can’t believe they’re selling this craptastic toy for such a high price.”

33. Foul

Foul is a slang term used to describe something that is unpleasant, offensive, or morally wrong.

For example, “The smell in this room is foul. It’s making me sick.”
A person might say, “His language was really foul. I couldn’t believe what he was saying.”
In a discussion about a controversial action, someone might comment, “That was a foul move. It’s not fair to treat people that way.”

34. Rotten to the core

To be rotten to the core means to be thoroughly bad or corrupt, with no redeeming qualities.

For instance, “That politician is rotten to the core. He’s been involved in multiple scandals.”
A person might say, “I can’t trust him. He’s rotten to the core.”
In a discussion about a dishonest business, someone might comment, “Their practices are rotten to the core. They take advantage of vulnerable customers.”

35. Bunk

Bunk is a slang term used to describe something that is nonsense or of very poor quality. It can refer to an idea, statement, or thing.

For example, “Don’t listen to him, he’s just talking bunk.”
A person might say, “I bought this product online and it turned out to be bunk. It didn’t work at all.”
In a discussion about a false rumor, someone might comment, “That story is total bunk. There’s no evidence to support it.”

36. Dreck

This word is used to describe something of poor quality or value. It can also refer to something that is dirty or disgusting.

For example, “That movie was dreck. I wasted two hours of my life.”
A person might say, “I can’t believe you bought that drecky shirt. It’s falling apart already.”
In a review of a restaurant, someone might write, “The food was absolute dreck. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.”

37. Nasty

This slang term is used to describe something that is unpleasant, unappealing, or of poor quality. It can also refer to a person who is mean or unpleasant.

For instance, “I took a bite of that sandwich and it tasted nasty. I couldn’t finish it.”
Someone might say, “Don’t touch that, it’s nasty. It’s covered in dirt.”
A person might describe someone’s behavior as nasty and say, “She said some really nasty things to me. I can’t believe how mean she was.”

38. Rancid

This word is used to describe something that has gone bad or is no longer fresh. It can also refer to something that is unpleasant or offensive.

For example, “I opened the fridge and the smell was rancid. I had to throw everything out.”
Someone might say, “That milk is rancid. It’s way past its expiration date.”
A person might describe a joke as rancid and say, “That was a rancid joke. It wasn’t funny at all.”

39. Stinky

This slang term is used to describe something that has a strong, unpleasant odor. It can refer to anything from body odor to food that has gone bad.

For instance, “I forgot to take out the trash and now the whole house smells stinky.”
Someone might say, “I can’t go in there, it’s a stinky bathroom.”
A person might describe someone’s feet as stinky and say, “Take off your shoes, your feet are stinky.”

40. Rank

This word is used to describe something that is extremely unpleasant, offensive, or of poor quality. It can also refer to something that is highly competitive or intense.

For example, “I walked into the room and the smell was rank. I had to leave.”
Someone might say, “That cheese is rank. It’s way past its expiration date.”
A person might describe a situation as rank and say, “The competition was rank. It was fierce and intense.”

41. Gross

A term used to describe something that is extremely unpleasant or revolting.

For example, “That food looks gross, I wouldn’t eat it.”
Someone might say, “I saw a gross bug crawling on the floor.”
A person might comment, “The smell in here is gross, we need to open a window.”

42. Trashy

Refers to something that is considered cheap, vulgar, or lacking in style or sophistication.

For instance, “That outfit looks really trashy, she should dress more elegantly.”
A person might say, “I can’t believe he’s dating someone so trashy.”
A friend might comment, “The party last night was so trashy, I didn’t enjoy it at all.”

43. Wretched

Used to describe something that is extremely unpleasant, unfortunate, or of poor quality.

For example, “I had a wretched day at work, everything went wrong.”
A person might say, “The weather is wretched, it’s been raining for days.”
Someone might comment, “The service at that restaurant was wretched, I wouldn’t recommend it.”

44. Cringe-worthy

Refers to something that elicits a feeling of discomfort or secondhand embarrassment.

For instance, “I can’t watch that movie, it’s too cringe-worthy.”
A person might say, “His speech was so cringe-worthy, I couldn’t stop cringing.”
Someone might comment, “That joke was cringe-worthy, nobody laughed.”

45. Atrocious

Used to describe something that is shockingly bad, terrible, or of very poor quality.

For example, “The food at that restaurant was atrocious, I couldn’t eat it.”
A person might say, “The traffic today was atrocious, it took me hours to get home.”
Someone might comment, “The customer service at that store was atrocious, they were rude and unhelpful.”

46. Abysmal

This word is used to describe something that is extremely bad or of very poor quality. It emphasizes the depth or extent of the badness.

For example, “The movie received abysmal reviews from critics.”
A disappointed customer might say, “The service at that restaurant was abysmal.”
Someone might comment, “The team’s performance in the game was abysmal, they didn’t score a single goal.”

47. Dull

This word is used to describe something that lacks excitement, interest, or stimulation. It suggests a lack of liveliness or dullness.

For instance, “The lecture was so dull, I struggled to stay awake.”
A person might complain, “This book is really dull, nothing exciting ever happens.”
Someone might say, “The party was a bit dull, there wasn’t much happening.”

48. Flawed

This word is used to describe something that has mistakes, errors, or faults. It implies that there are problems or weaknesses in the thing being referred to.

For example, “The plan had several flawed assumptions that led to its failure.”
A person might say, “The design of this product is flawed, it keeps breaking easily.”
Someone might comment, “The argument presented in the article is flawed, it overlooks important evidence.”

49. Junky

This word is used to describe something that is of poor quality or inferior. It suggests that the thing being referred to is not worth much or is not desirable.

For instance, “I bought a cheap watch, but it turned out to be junky, it stopped working after a week.”
A person might say, “The hotel room was junky, it was dirty and had broken furniture.”
Someone might comment, “The website’s design looks really junky, it’s not professional at all.”

50. Piss-poor

This word is used to describe something that is very bad or of extremely poor quality. It is an intensifier for the word “poor” and adds a vulgar touch.

For example, “The customer service at that store was piss-poor, they were rude and unhelpful.”
A person might say, “The team’s performance in the game was piss-poor, they lost by a huge margin.”
Someone might comment, “The quality of this product is piss-poor, it falls apart after just a few uses.”

51. God-awful

This term is used to describe something that is exceptionally bad or of very poor quality. It emphasizes the intensity of the negative experience.

For example, “That movie was god-awful. I couldn’t even sit through it.”
A person might say, “The food at that restaurant was god-awful. I wouldn’t recommend it to anyone.”
Another might exclaim, “The weather today is god-awful. I can’t believe how hot it is!”

52. Dreadful

This word is used to express extreme disappointment or disapproval. It conveys a strong sense of negativity and dissatisfaction.

For instance, “The service at that restaurant was dreadful. We waited for over an hour for our food.”
A person might say, “I had a dreadful day at work. Everything went wrong.”
Another might complain, “The traffic this morning was dreadful. I was stuck in it for hours!”

53. Shit

This slang term is used to describe something that is considered to be extremely bad, disappointing, or unsatisfactory. It is a vulgar expression that conveys strong negativity.

For example, “That movie was shit. It had a terrible plot and bad acting.”
A person might say, “I feel like shit today. I have a terrible headache.”
Another might exclaim, “This food tastes like shit. I can’t eat it!”

54. Sucktastic

This is a playful combination of the words “suck” and “fantastic.” It is used to describe something that is considered to be exceptionally bad or disappointing in a sarcastic or ironic way.

For instance, “The concert last night was sucktastic. The sound quality was terrible.”
A person might say, “I had a sucktastic day at work. Nothing went right.”
Another might complain, “This weather is sucktastic. It’s been raining for days!”

55. Miserable

This word is used to describe a state of extreme unhappiness, discomfort, or dissatisfaction. It conveys a strong sense of negativity and discontent.

For example, “I had a miserable time at the party. I didn’t know anyone and felt out of place.”
A person might say, “I feel miserable today. I have a terrible cold.”
Another might complain, “This hotel room is miserable. It’s dirty and the bed is uncomfortable!”

56. Defective

This term is used to describe something that is flawed or not working correctly.

For example, “The phone I bought turned out to be defective and wouldn’t turn on.”
A person might complain, “I can’t believe I got a defective product, it’s such a waste of money.”
In a review, someone might say, “The defective software kept crashing and caused me a lot of frustration.”

57. Shitty-ass

This slang term is used to emphasize how bad something is, often with a negative connotation.

For instance, “I can’t believe I paid so much money for this shitty-ass car that keeps breaking down.”
A person might say, “I had a shitty-ass day at work, everything went wrong.”
In a movie review, someone might write, “The acting in this film was shitty-ass, I couldn’t stand it.”

58. Crapola

This term is a playful and slightly humorous way of describing something as bad or of low quality.

For example, “I tried this new restaurant and the food was total crapola.”
A person might exclaim, “Oh crapola! I forgot to bring my keys.”
In a conversation about a disappointing movie, someone might say, “Save your money, that film is pure crapola.”