Badly: meaning, definitions and examples

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badly

[ˈbædli ]

Definition

^{Context #1 | Adverb}

adverb

In a severe or harmful way. Used to emphasize the degree of something negative.

Synonyms

awfully, horribly, poorly, severely, terribly.

Which Synonym Should You Choose?

Word	Description / Examples
badly	Use when something goes wrong or in a poor manner. It can describe situations, emotions, or abilities. She spoke English badly. He felt badly after the argument.
severely	Describes something extreme in nature, often referring to damage or conditions. It can convey a sense of seriousness. He was severely injured in the crash. The punishment was severely harsh.
poorly	Describes something done in a substandard or inadequate manner. Often used in formal or neutral contexts. The project was poorly executed. He performed poorly in the test.
terribly	Indicates something very bad or dreadful. Can also mean 'very' in informal speech, similar to 'awfully'. The weather was terribly cold. She plays terribly on the piano.
awfully	Emphasizes the extent or degree of something, often negative. It can also mean 'very' in informal contexts. The movie was awfully boring. I'm awfully tired today.
horribly	Describes something very unpleasant or terrible. It often adds a sense of shock or distress. She cried horribly after the accident. The food tasted horribly bad.

Examples of usage

She was badly injured in the accident.
He felt badly about forgetting her birthday.
The team performed badly in the championship.
The situation is getting worse badly.

Interesting Facts

Etymology

The word 'badly' comes from 'bad', which has roots going back to Old English, where it meant 'evil' or 'wicked'.
The suffix '-ly' is used to form adverbs, meaning that it describes how something is done.

Pop Culture

The phrase 'badly behaved' is common in stories and media, often used for characters that act in a naughty or troublesome way.
In many songs and movies, characters might say they did something badly to express disappointment or humor, adding a light-hearted twist.

Psychology

Feeling like you've done something badly can lead to low self-esteem, as people often tie their identity to their performance.
Research shows that the fear of doing something badly can cause anxiety, potentially stopping people from trying new things.

Literature

In literature, characters often reflect on their actions being done badly as a way to develop their arc and learn from mistakes.
Authors frequently use the concept of doing things badly to evoke sympathy or to challenge a character to improve.

Language and Usage

Badly can also suggest a strong emotion; for example, when someone says they want something badly, it means they desire it very much.
The adverb 'badly' is sometimes used humorously or ironically in phrases like 'I badly need a holiday', showing intensity.

Translations

Translations of the word "badly" in other languages:

🇵🇹 mal

🇮🇳 बुरी तरह

🇩🇪 schlecht

🇮🇩 buruk

🇺🇦 погано

🇵🇱 źle

🇯🇵 悪く

🇫🇷 mal

🇪🇸 mal

🇹🇷 kötü

🇰🇷 나쁘게

🇸🇦 بشكل سيء

🇨🇿 špatně

🇸🇰 zle

🇨🇳 糟糕地

🇸🇮 slabo

🇮🇸 illa

🇰🇿 жаман

🇬🇪 ცუდად

🇦🇿 pis

🇲🇽 mal

Word Frequency Rank

With rank #4,034, this word represents useful upper-intermediate vocabulary. Understanding and using it will help you express more complex ideas effectively.

...
4031 historic
4032 tended
4033 ethical
4034 badly
4035 rigid
4036 enhanced
4037 cat
...