Dictionary
bad•ly
Pronunciation: (bad'lē), [key]
—adv., worse, worst,
—adj.
—
adv.
1. in a defective, incorrect, or undesirable way:
The car runs badly.
2. in an unsatisfactory, inadequate, or unskilled manner:
a vague, badly written letter; He paints badly.
3. unfavorably:
His neighbors spoke badly of him. The weather turned out badly for the cruise.
4. in a wicked, evil, or morally or legally wrong way.
5. in a disobedient, naughty, or ethically or socially wrong way:
He treats his parents badly.
6. very much; to a great extent or degree:
a house badly in need of repair; to want something badly.
7. severely; direly:
to be injured badly.
8. with great distress, resentment, regret, or emotional display:
She took the news of her mother's death badly.
9. badly off. See
bad (def. 47).
—
adj.
1. in ill health; sick:
He felt badly.
2. sorry; regretful:
I feel badly about your reaction to my remark.
3. dejected; downcast.
Random House Unabridged Dictionary, Copyright © 1997, by Random House, Inc., on Infoplease.