Bad, a. [Compar. Worse; superl. Worst. ]
Etymology: [Probably fr. AS. bæddel hermaphrodite; cf. bædling effeminate fellow.]
Wanting good qualities, whether physical or moral; injurious, hurtful, inconvenient, offensive, painful, unfavorable, or defective, either physically or morally; evil; vicious; wicked; -- the opposite of good; as a bad man; bad conduct; bad habits; bad soil; bad health; bad crop; bad news.
Note: Sometimes used substantively. The strong antipathy of good to bad. Pope.
Syn. -- Pernicious; deleterious; noxious; baneful; injurious; hurtful; evil; vile; wretched; corrupt; wicked; vicious; imperfect.
1 other Webster entry under this spelling
Bad, imp.
of Bid. Bade. [Obs.] Dryden.
Shades of meaning
Fernald has no entry of its own for bad; he lists it under pernicious.
He lists it without comment; the entries above explain its neighbors.