Here is a very useful list of other ways to say “bad” in writing. Using these words instead of a boring “bad” will add a lot to any story. For example, if your character says, “This is really bad,” it is kind of bland. Instead have them say, “Oh, man. That was brutal.” It adds a lot more feeling and sets the mood much better.

1. base
2. dire
3. evil
4. foul
5. icky
6. vile
7. awful
8. lousy
9. nasty
10. abject
11. brutal
12. cursed
13. horrid
14. odious
15. rotten
16. sinful
17. sordid
18. wicked
19. woeful
20. beastly
21. galling
22. ghastly
23. hateful
24. harmful
25. heinous
26. hellish
27. hideous
28. ignoble
29. immoral
30. nocuous
31. noisome
32. noxious
33. obscene
34. ruinous
35. swinish
36. vicious
37. annoying
38. barbaric
39. dreadful
40. fiendish
41. flagrant
42. grievous
43. horrible
44. horrific
45. infamous
46. infernal
47. shocking
48. sinister
49. terrible
50. unworthy
51. wretched
52. abhorrent
53. appalling
54. atrocious
55. dismaying
56. egregious
57. execrable
58. inclement
59. injurious
60. loathsome
61. monstrous
62. nefarious
63. offensive
64. repellent
65. reprobate
66. repugnant
67. repulsive
68. revolting
69. sickening
70. vexatious
71. worthless
72. abominable
73. calamitous
74. degenerate
75. despicable
76. detestable
77. diabolical
78. disgusting
79. disturbing
80. horrendous
81. horrifying
82. iniquitous
83. malevolent
84. nauseating
85. pejorative
86. scandalous
87. unpleasant
88. villainous
89. deleterious
90. detrimental
91. displeasing
92. distasteful
93. ignominious
94. mischievous
95. treacherous
96. unpalatable
97. contemptible
98. disagreeable
99. disheartening
100. reprehensible