bad feeling

USAGE SUMMARY

'bad feeling' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe an emotion or a sensation someone may have. For example, "I'm having a bad feeling about this project."

✓ Grammatically correct

BMC Family Practice

The New York Times

The New Yorker

The Guardian

The Economist

BBC

Vice

HuffPost

BMJ Open

Los Angeles Times

The Washington Post

Maxillofacial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

Intensive Care Medicine Experimental

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

It was a really bad feeling.

BMC Family Practice

"It's a bad feeling".

The New York Times

It isn't a bad feeling.

The New Yorker

Either way, there's bad feeling.

The New York Times

There's no bad feeling.

The Guardian

It was a bad feeling".

The New York Times - Sports

No bad feeling at all".

The Guardian

But the bad feeling continued.

The Guardian - Sport

"It's a bad, bad feeling".

The New York Times - Sports

I just have a bad, bad feeling".

The New York Times

I just have this bad feeling tonight".

The New Yorker

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When describing a general sense of unease without a specific cause, "bad feeling" is appropriate. For more specific premonitions, consider using phrases like "premonition of disaster".

Common error

While "bad feeling" describes a general sense of unease, it should not be used interchangeably with clinical terms like anxiety or depression. If someone is experiencing prolonged or severe distress, advise them to seek professional help.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad feeling" functions as a noun phrase, typically acting as the object of a verb (e.g., "I have a "bad feeling"") or as a subject complement. It describes an emotional state or intuition.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

68%

Science

15%

Formal & Business

7%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad feeling" is a grammatically sound and frequently used noun phrase that describes a sense of unease or apprehension. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability in written English. It is versatile, appearing across various contexts from news to personal narratives. While it's generally neutral in register, it's important not to confuse it with clinical terms like anxiety. Alternatives such as "sense of unease" or "gut feeling" can provide nuanced expressions of similar sentiments. Its wide adoption by authoritative sources and clear communicative function make it a reliable phrase for expressing a negative intuition or emotional state.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

uneasy feeling

Similar to "bad feeling" but puts more emphasis on lack of comfort.

unsettling feeling

Highlights the disturbing or disquieting nature of the feeling.

gut feeling

Highlights an intuitive sense, often without a clear rational basis.

sense of unease

Emphasizes a general feeling of discomfort or anxiety.

nagging feeling

Describes a persistent and bothersome sense of discomfort.

foreboding

A strong feeling that something bad is going to happen in the future.

ominous feeling

Suggests a feeling that something evil or threatening is present.

premonition of disaster

Suggests a specific anticipation of something terrible happening.

dread

A feeling of great fear or apprehension.

inkling

Suggests a vague idea or suspicion, often negative.

FAQs

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

You can use "bad feeling" to describe an intuition or sense that something negative is about to happen. For example, "I have a "bad feeling" about this deal" or "She had a "bad feeling" before the storm hit.

What are some alternative ways to express "bad feeling"?

You can use alternatives like "sense of unease", "gut feeling", or "foreboding" to express a similar sentiment depending on the context.

Is it appropriate to use "bad feeling" in formal writing?

Yes, "bad feeling" is appropriate for both formal and informal writing. However, in highly formal contexts, you might consider using more precise language depending on the specific emotion or intuition you are describing.

What's the difference between "bad feeling" and "anxiety"?

"Bad feeling" is a general term for a sense of unease or apprehension, while anxiety is a specific clinical term referring to a state of worry, nervousness, or unease. If someone is experiencing prolonged or severe distress, advise seeking professional help.