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• feel-bad
  feel-bad

  adjective

  intended to make one feel unhappy, depressed, or dissatisfied, often to arouse one’s conscience or understanding.
• feel bad
  feel bad

  Also, feel bad about. Experience regret, sadness, embarrassment, or a similar unpleasant emotion. For example, I feel bad about not attending the funeral, or The teacher's scolding made Bobby feel bad. [First half of 1800s]

feel-bad

American  

[feel-bad] / ˈfilˈbæd /

adjective

Informal.

1. intended to make one feel unhappy, depressed, or dissatisfied, often to arouse one’s conscience or understanding.

   a feel-bad documentary about Nagasaki;

   feel-bad financial reports.

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feel bad Idioms  

1. Also, feel bad about. Experience regret, sadness, embarrassment, or a similar unpleasant emotion. For example, I feel bad about not attending the funeral, or The teacher's scolding made Bobby feel bad. [First half of 1800s]

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Etymology

Origin of feel-bad

First recorded in 1980–85; feel ( def. ) + bad ¹ ( def. ) on the model of feel-good ( def. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

feel-bad feel bad

I'm sure that has contributed to the general atmosphere of doom and gloom that seems to define this feel-bad era.

From Salon ● Apr. 12, 2024

One reason is pretty simple: It’s a feel-bad story that complicates the narrative that has grown increasingly central to how we understand the history of how our technology was invented and produced.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 24, 2023

Set amid the impressive vistas of the Canadian northwest, “Out of the Blue” is a boldly feel-bad film about punk rock, lunatic driving and deranged family values.

From New York Times ● Nov. 17, 2021

Let’s not mince words: The Tomorrow War is the feel-bad movie of the year.

From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2021

The more feel-bad moments you have in a game, the less people want to play.”

From The Guardian ● Sep. 17, 2019

"I feel bad in a way now that I felt that way towards mum," he said.

From BBC ● Nov. 7, 2026

It might feel bad seeing other kids being shuttled from hobby to hobby, but that doesn’t mean you’re doing a bad job as a parent because yours must pick one at a time.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 8, 2026

“They don’t feel bad about the country when told the whole story, and they’re grateful that they have access to the information.”

From Salon ● Sep. 25, 2026

“It seemed like a big waste of government money, but I do feel bad for the people who stood in line for nothing,” wrote one Reddit user on the gift cards running out.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 15, 2026

He hadn’t meant to make his mom feel bad or to keep her from buying Georgie a wedding gown.

From "Millionaires for the Month" by Stacey McAnulty

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