like really bad

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "like really bad" is correct and usable in written English, particularly in informal contexts.
It can be used to emphasize the severity or intensity of a negative situation or experience. Example: "The movie was like really bad; I couldn't even finish it."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Academia

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

17 human-written examples

That's really spoiled fruit, like really bad wine," he said, adding that he was perplexed at its popularity.

The New York Times - Food

Edward Furlong shiftily sidled up a full two years later with this cautionary tale about a rad CD-ROM game that ends up being, like, really bad.

The Guardian - Film

As if to prove her silly dilettantism, when a journalist asked Dasha about her favourite artists, she replied, "I'm, like, really bad at remembering names".

The Guardian - Arts

I love to be thrown into, like, really bad weather, compromises, diving in first and figuring out how to swim later.

The Guardian - Film

We all know that alcohol is bad for you — like really bad for you — and a night of heavy drinking can leave us wishing the next day was our last.

Cornell University

But when we actually take in context, seriously, what we found is first of all, when we try to use these traits, they are terrible at predicting behavior, like really bad at predicting the behaviors that they should predict.

Harvard Business Review

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

43 human-written examples

If you like something really bad, keep it but put it in an organized place.

WikiHow

I'm not sure how many people understand today what it's like, really having it bad".

The Guardian

I felt like a really bad player.

The Guardian - Sport

"We needed something like this really bad," Gomez said.

The New York Times - Sports

"The next day it just felt like a really bad sunburn".

The Guardian - Sport

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "like really bad" in informal settings to emphasize a negative quality or experience. Be mindful that it may not be appropriate in formal writing.

Common error

Avoid using "like really bad" in formal contexts, such as academic papers or professional reports. Opt for more sophisticated and precise language to convey the intended meaning, as "like really bad" sounds colloquial and lacks the required formality.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "like really bad" functions as an intensifier followed by an adjective. It modifies the adjective "bad" to emphasize the degree or extent of its negativity. Ludwig AI confirms it is correct and usable in written English.

Expression frequency: Common

Frequent in

News & Media

42%

Wiki

20%

Academia

10%

Less common in

Science

10%

Formal & Business

10%

Reference

8%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "like really bad" is a grammatically correct and commonly used expression to emphasize a negative sentiment. While Ludwig confirms its usability, it's primarily suited for informal contexts such as casual conversations or less formal writing. It should be avoided in academic, professional, or formal communications, where more sophisticated and precise language is preferred. Alternatives such as "extremely terrible" or "utterly awful" can be used in its place in more formal settings.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

extremely terrible

Replaces "like really bad" with stronger adjectives emphasizing the severity.

utterly awful

Uses a different intensifier and adjective to express strong negativity.

exceptionally poor

Replaces colloquial terms with more formal vocabulary indicating low quality.

remarkably dreadful

Employs a different adverb and adjective to describe a negative experience.

truly horrendous

Uses a synonym for "bad" to express a high degree of unpleasantness.

absolutely wretched

Replaces familiar terms with more dramatic language to convey negativity.

terribly deficient

Substitutes common words with more technical or descriptive terms.

plainly unacceptable

Emphasizes that something doesn't meet a certain standard.

simply atrocious

Uses a different adjective to express that something is shockingly bad.

seriously substandard

Indicates that something is significantly below the required or expected level.

FAQs

How can I use "like really bad" in a sentence?

You can use "like really bad" to emphasize a negative quality. For example: "The food was like really bad, I couldn't eat it."

What are some alternatives to "like really bad"?

You can use alternatives such as "extremely terrible", "utterly awful", or "exceptionally poor" depending on the context.

Is it grammatically correct to say "like really bad"?

Yes, "like really bad" is grammatically acceptable, particularly in informal contexts, to emphasize a negative quality or situation.

When should I avoid using "like really bad"?

Avoid using "like really bad" in formal writing, such as academic papers, business reports, or official communications. More sophisticated and precise language is preferable in those settings.