as bad as

USAGE SUMMARY

The expression "as bad as" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you are comparing two things, to indicate that the two things have a similar level of badness. For example, "The traffic jam was as bad as I expected it to be."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

59 human-written examples

Not as bad as Korematsu.

The New Yorker

As bad as Dred Scott?

The New Yorker

You're as bad as me.

The New Yorker

Not as bad as Camille.

The New Yorker

"Nowhere near as bad as I thought".

The New York Times

"You're as bad as our blinkered government".

Independent

IS this as bad as it gets?

The New York Times

That's as bad as it gets".

The New York Times - Sports

"As bad as it gets," Teaff said.

The New York Times - Sports

This is as bad as it gets".

The New York Times

Everyone is as bad as each other.

Independent

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "as bad as" to draw direct comparisons, ensuring both subjects are clearly defined for context. For example, "The movie was "as bad as" the reviews suggested."

Common error

Avoid using "as bad as" without clearly specifying what is being compared. For example, instead of saying "The situation is "as bad as" it gets," provide context: "The situation is "as bad as" the 2008 financial crisis."

Linguistic Context

The phrase "as bad as" functions as a comparative structure used to equate the degree of negativity or undesirability between two subjects. As Ludwig AI confirms, this structure is grammatically correct and widely used.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

67%

Wiki

14%

Science

6%

Less common in

Formal & Business

3%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "as bad as" is a grammatically sound and frequently used comparative structure, as verified by Ludwig AI. It serves to equate the degree of negativity between two subjects across a variety of contexts, primarily in news and media. While versatile, it's important to ensure clear context in your comparisons. For situations requiring variations, alternatives such as "equally awful", "no better than", and "just as terrible" offer nuanced ways to express similar sentiments.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

equally awful

Changes the structure while maintaining a direct comparison of negative intensity.

just as terrible

Replaces "bad" with "terrible" for emphasis, while keeping the comparative structure.

no better than

Expresses a similar level of inadequacy, but with a slightly different focus.

as dreadful

Synonym replacement for bad.

the same magnitude of negativity

More formal way of expressing similar severity or negativity.

of comparable severity

Formal and emphasizes comparable severity, suitable for academic/business use.

on par with the awfulness

A more colloquial and descriptive alternative.

matches the gravity of

Emphasizes the seriousness or importance of the comparison.

bears equal demerit

Formal and highlights the equal fault or negative quality.

reflects similar discredit

Highlights reflection of discredit.

FAQs

How can I use "as bad as" in a sentence?

Use "as bad as" to compare the severity or negative quality of two things. For example, "The traffic was "just as terrible" as I expected."

What can I say instead of "as bad as"?

You can use alternatives like "equally awful", "no better than", or "just as terrible" depending on the context.

Is it correct to say "as worse as" instead of "as bad as"?

No, "as worse as" is grammatically incorrect. The correct phrase is "as bad as", which uses the base adjective 'bad' for comparison. 'Worse' is already a comparative form.

What is the difference between "as bad as" and "worse than"?

"As bad as" indicates that two things are of equal negative quality, while "worse than" implies that one thing is of a greater negative quality compared to another. For example, "This movie is "as bad as" the first one" means they are equally terrible. "This movie is "worse than" the first one" means it is more terrible.