worse

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From bad (adj):

worse: adj comparative

worst: adj superlative

From badly (adv):

worse: adv comparative

worst: adv superlative

From ill (adj):

worse: adj comparative

worst: adj superlative

From ill (adv):

worse: adv comparative

worst: adv comparative

worse

Worse is the comparative form of bad and the usual comparative form of badly.

➜ See bad - badly

bad - badly

‘bad’

Something that is bad is unpleasant, harmful, or undesirable.

I have some very bad news.

Sugar is bad for your teeth.

The comparative and superlative forms of bad are worse and worst.

Her grades are getting worse and worse.

This is the worst day of my life.

‘badly’

Don't use ‘bad’ as an adverb. Don't say, for example, ‘They did bad in the elections’. You say ‘They did badly in the elections’.

I cut myself badly.

The room was so badly lit I couldn't see what I was doing.

When badly is used like this, its comparative and superlative forms are worse and worst.

We played worse than in our previous match.

The south of England was the worst affected area.

Badly has another different meaning. If you need or want something badly, you need or want it very much.

I want this job so badly.

We badly need the money.

I am badly in need of advice.

For this meaning of badly, don't use the comparative and superlative forms ‘worse’ and ‘worst’. Instead you use the forms more badly and most badly.

She wanted to see him more badly than ever.

Basketball is the sport that most badly needs new players.

Adverbs and adverbials (for a graded list of words used to indicate degree)

ill - sick

‘ill’ and ‘sick’

Ill and sick are both used for saying that someone has a disease or some other problem with their health. You can use either ill or sick after a linking verb.

Manjit is ill and can't come to school.

Your uncle is very sick.

You usually use sick, rather than ‘ill’, in front of a noun.

She was at home looking after her sick baby.

However, you often use ill in front of a noun when you are also using an adverb such as seriously, chronically, or terminally.

This ward is for terminally ill patients.

Be careful
The usual comparative form of ill is worse.

The next day I felt worse.

‘be sick’

To be sick means to bring up food from your stomach.

Cristina ate so much that she was sick.

➜ See sick

Be careful
Don't use ‘ill’ or ‘sick’ to say that someone has received an injury. Say that they are injured or hurt.

Two people were injured and taken to hospital after the car crash.

➜ See hurt

'worse' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):

bad - be - can - even - fair - ill - let - since

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