think badly of

USAGE SUMMARY

"think badly of" is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it when you want to express a negative opinion about someone or something. For example: "I think badly of those who take advantage of others."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Wiki

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

50 human-written examples

She doesn't think badly of me that I don't cover up, and I don't think badly of her.

The Guardian

Halliburton believes that most Americans do not, in fact, think badly of the firm.

The Economist

None of us likes to think badly of ourselves or of our economic system.

The New York Times

The strange thing is that I don't think badly of him.

The Guardian - Film

'People who don't know me think badly of me,' he said.

The Guardian

Of course, not as many corporate leaders think badly of themselves.

The New York Times

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

7 human-written examples

"The world already thinks badly of us," he adds.

The Economist

And then they began to pick out aspects that they disagreed with or thought badly of.

The New York Times

Franklin thought badly of bald eagles because they often stole prey from ospreys.

The New York Times - Arts

What a gentleman - one of those few characters in the game that nobody has ever thought badly of.

The Guardian - Sport

If he ever thought badly of me for needing something from Haiti, this place where so many people already needed so much, he never let it show.

The New York Times

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "think badly of" when you want to express a negative opinion or judgment about someone or something, without necessarily implying strong anger or hatred. It suggests a mild to moderate level of disapproval.

Common error

Avoid using "think badly of" when you want to express intense anger, hatred, or contempt. Stronger verbs like "despise" or "detest" are more appropriate in such cases.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "think badly of" primarily functions as a verb phrase used to express a negative opinion or judgment about someone or something. As Ludwig AI indicates, it's a correct and usable phrase in English. The phrase acts as the predicate of a sentence, conveying the subject's negative assessment.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

53%

Wiki

16%

Science

13%

Less common in

Formal & Business

5%

Encyclopedias

0%

Reference

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "think badly of" is a versatile verb phrase used to express a negative opinion or judgment, as confirmed by Ludwig AI. It's grammatically correct and commonly found in various contexts, particularly in news and media. While not the strongest expression of disapproval, it conveys a mild to moderate level of negative assessment. When writing, remember to consider the tone and context to ensure it aligns with your intended message. Ludwig provides numerous examples showcasing the diverse applications of this phrase.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

think ill of

Uses 'ill' instead of 'badly', which is a more formal or archaic phrasing.

have a low opinion of

Replaces the verb 'think' with 'have an opinion', adding more words, changing the sentence structure, but retains the core meaning.

look down on

Implies a sense of superiority in judgment.

disapprove of

Focuses on disapproval rather than general negative assessment.

criticize

Emphasizes the act of expressing negative opinions.

judge harshly

Highlights the severity of the negative judgment.

take a dim view of

An idiomatic expression conveying disapproval or pessimism.

condemn

Implies a strong moral or ethical disapproval.

deplore

Expresses strong disapproval or regret.

despise

Indicates a feeling of intense dislike or contempt.

FAQs

How can I use "think badly of" in a sentence?

You can use "think badly of" to express a negative opinion. For example, "I don't "think badly of" her for making that decision."

What is a more formal alternative to "think badly of"?

A more formal alternative could be "think ill of", though it's less commonly used in contemporary English.

Is it correct to say "think bad of" instead of "think badly of"?

While "bad" can sometimes be used informally as an adverb, ""think badly of"" is the grammatically correct and more widely accepted form. Using "bad" instead of "badly" might be considered incorrect in formal writing.

What's the difference between "disapprove of" and "think badly of"?

"Disapprove of" suggests a stronger, more definitive rejection of something based on principles or rules, whereas "think badly of" implies a more general negative assessment or opinion.