badly

[bad-lee]

adverb

worse, worst 

1. in a defective, incorrect, or undesirable way.

   The car runs badly.

2. in an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unskilled manner.

   a vague, badly written letter; He paints badly.

3. unfavorably.

   His neighbors spoke badly of him. The weather turned out badly for the cruise.

4. in a wicked, evil, or morally or legally wrong way.

5. in a disobedient, naughty, or ethically or socially wrong way.

   He treats his parents badly.

6. very much; to a great extent or degree.

   a house badly in need of repair; to want something badly.

7. severely; direly.

   to be injured badly.

8. with great distress, resentment, regret, or emotional display.

   She took the news of her mother's death badly.

adjective

1. in ill health; sick.

   He felt badly.

2. sorry; regretful.

   I feel badly about your reaction to my remark.

3. dejected; downcast.

badly

/ ˈbædlɪ /

adverb

1. poorly; defectively; inadequately

   the chair is badly made

2. unfavourably; unsuccessfully; unfortunately

   our scheme worked out badly

3. severely; gravely

   he was badly hurt

4. incorrectly or inaccurately

   to speak German badly

5. improperly; naughtily; wickedly

   to behave badly

6. without humanity; cruelly

   to treat someone badly

7. very much (esp in the phrases need badly , badly in need of , want badly )

8. regretfully

   he felt badly about it

9. poor; impoverished

adjective

1. dialect,  (postpositive) ill; poorly

Usage

In the sense “very much,” badly is fully standard: He needs help badly. See also bad ¹.

Word History and Origins

Origin of badly¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English baddeli, baddeliche, badli(che) “wickedly, evilly, poorly”; bad ¹, -ly

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. badly off. bad.

Example Sentences

It’s the feeling of “I will not be able to exist if my life is turned around this badly,” Fortuna said.

From Los Angeles Times

It’s a good thing Yang didn’t leave “SNL” as was rumored because this episode badly needed him.

From Los Angeles Times

Many bemoan the interruption of the international break – Liverpool are currently struggling so badly they may just welcome the chance to clear their heads.

From BBC

In fact, ever since that 2024 winter of discontent, news conferences, articles and the narrative of pretty much every game they have played has been dominated by what had gone so badly wrong before.

From BBC

If they can't implement simple tactics such as how to correctly defend a throw-in, then something is badly wrong.

From BBC

Related Words

• deeply 
• greatly 
• hard 
• painfully www.thesaurus.com
• seriously 
• severely