bad win

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "bad win" is grammatically correct and can be used in written English.
It refers to a situation where someone wins, but the win is not seen as positive or desirable. Example: "The team's victory was considered a bad win, as their opponents suffered multiple injuries during the game."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Sport

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

4 human-written examples

I have to love these guys good or bad, win or lose.

The Guardian - Sport

This type of coverage often reveals more about the news media than about the candidates or the voters, so I'm not eager to establish an arbitrary threshold that would distinguish a "good" win from a "bad" win.

The New York Times

Over in Amsterdam the whitening of Marco van Basten's dome accelerated a little further as he watched his Ajax creep to a second straight, devastatingly bad, win - this one against NEC.

The Guardian - Sport

That is bad, win, lose or draw on Tuesday," he said.

Huffington Post

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

55 human-written examples

There were good wins, mediocre wins and bad wins.

The Guardian - Sport

"I didn't feel bad winning the World Series in 2007," he said.

The New York Times - Sports

"It's probably as bad winning as it is losing, it's probably excruciating, particularly if you think, 'oh, that other person should have won'.

The Guardian

But remember, particularly in your comments: it's not a competition, which, let's face it, is lucky for me, and for her, because, although losing would be bad, winning would be worse.

The New York Times

Minutes after "Bad" won the best drama award, the widely followed Netflix Twitter account congratulated the show — "All hail (this year's) king" — and reminded subscribers that they could catch up online.

The New York Times

"'Breaking Bad' winning," he said.

Los Angeles Times

But at the end of the day, when you play a team like that, you know they're going to be there at the end, and good losses are almost better than bad wins.

Los Angeles Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "bad win" to describe situations where the victory is achieved through undesirable means or carries negative consequences. It is especially useful in sports, politics, or business contexts where ethics and fair play are important.

Common error

Avoid using "bad win" to simply describe a game where a team played poorly and lost. "Bad win" specifically refers to a victory that is somehow tainted or undesirable, not just a poorly played game that results in a loss. Ensure the context clearly indicates the win was achieved through negative circumstances.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "bad win" functions as a noun phrase, where the adjective "bad" modifies the noun "win". This describes a particular kind of victory that is undesirable or has negative connotations. Ludwig confirms that the phrase is grammatically sound and used in reputable sources.

Expression frequency: Rare

Frequent in

News & Media

60%

Sport

30%

Formal & Business

10%

Less common in

Science

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "bad win" is a grammatically correct phrase used to describe a victory that is somehow tainted, undesirable, or achieved through problematic means. As indicated by Ludwig, it appears most frequently in news and sports contexts, signifying a win that carries negative connotations or fails to bring genuine satisfaction. While not exceedingly common, its usage is consistent and effective in conveying nuanced perspectives on victories that are not entirely positive. Alternatives such as "hollow victory" or "pyrrhic victory" can be used to express similar sentiments, depending on the specific aspect of the win you want to emphasize.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

unsatisfying victory

Directly expresses the lack of satisfaction derived from the win.

flawed win

Indicates the presence of imperfections or shortcomings in the victory.

hollow victory

Highlights the emptiness or lack of fulfillment associated with the win.

problematic win

Points out the issues or difficulties associated with the win.

tainted win

Suggests the win is corrupted or discredited by some negative factor.

empty triumph

Similar to hollow victory, but with a stronger emphasis on the feeling of emptiness.

questionable victory

Implies there are doubts or uncertainties about the legitimacy or worth of the win.

pyrrhic victory

Emphasizes the significant losses or costs incurred in achieving the win.

dubious win

Suggests the win is of uncertain or suspicious quality.

unconvincing win

Highlights that the win was achieved without strong or persuasive performance.

FAQs

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

You can use "bad win" to describe a victory that is tainted or undesirable, such as, "The team secured a "bad win" due to numerous penalties against the opposing team".

What's the difference between a "bad win" and a pyrrhic victory?

A "bad win" generally means the victory feels unsatisfactory or tainted. A "pyrrhic victory" specifically refers to a win that comes at such a great cost that it's almost equivalent to a loss.

Are there synonyms for "bad win" that I can use?

Yes, you can use phrases like "hollow victory", "tainted win", or "unsatisfying victory" as alternatives to "bad win".

Is it grammatically correct to use the phrase "bad win"?

Yes, it is grammatically correct. It is a common construction where an adjective ("bad") modifies a noun ("win") to describe the nature of the victory.