Phrase guide

gone bad

adj · verb · 5 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Of foods and commodities, having become spoiled, rotten, or otherwise unusable due to age or storage conditions.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gone off, spoiled, bad, gone bad, maggoted, rotten

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Of a person or entity, having ceased to be reputable and having instead become delinquent, criminal, or poorly behaved.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Of a region or area, having become unsafe.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

adj

Meaning 4

Of a delinquent or criminal act, having unexpectedly become more violent than is typical for that act—having resulted in an attack on a victim leading to serious injury or death.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • a drug deal gone bad, a robbery gone bad

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: gone wrong

Antonyms: none provided

5

verb

Meaning 5

past participle of go bad

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: form-of, participle, past

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.