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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

But the propulsive snap of Highsmith’s cool, unforgiving intellect is on almost every page; it’s a feel-bad read you can finish in a day.

From New York Times ● Nov. 25, 2023

It’s a feel-good movie for a feel-bad era.

From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 25, 2022

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

From Slate ● Jul. 15, 2021

They are the feel-bad hits of the summer.

From The Guardian ● Jun. 19, 2019

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

You feel bad for the children involved, unless they’ve swallowed their own PR.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 24, 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

“You know,” said Ekon after a pause, “I almost feel bad for her.”

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

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