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Definition of badly

badly

/ˈbæd.li/
bad · ly
Adjective:bad
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badly Lexical Profile

badly Game Scores & Validity

• adverb

1

In an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unsuccessful manner.

Example

"The team played badly during the first half of the tournament."

2

To a severe, serious, or harmful degree.

Example

"Several historic buildings were badly damaged by the coastal storm."

3

Very much; to a great or urgent extent (used especially with verbs expressing desire or need).

Example

"The community garden badly needs volunteers before the planting season begins."

Synonyms
View all synonyms for badly
Antonyms
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Word Nuance & Usage

After linking verbs such as 'feel', traditional grammar requires the predicate adjective 'bad' (meaning sorry, regretful, or unwell, as in 'I feel bad about the mistake'), whereas 'badly' is an adverb modifying an action ('she played badly'), though 'feel badly' is common in informal speech.

• Rhymes for badly

• Nearby Words

badger
badland
badlands
badly
badman
badminton
badmouth

Cite this Entry

Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Badly. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Nov 5, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/badly
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