bad news

noun

plural in form but singular in construction

: one that is troublesome, unwelcome, or dangerous

stay away from him, he's bad news

Examples of bad news in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

Good news, bad news on opioids More young people are being treated for opioid use disorder with medications. — Amanda Erickson, STAT, 5 Oct. 2026

Next month's midterm elections could change the balance of power in Congress — and, if Democrats prevail, spell bad news for the arch starting in January. — Rachel Treisman, NPR, 2 Oct. 2026

Authorities were preparing to make an arrest, Smallwood said, when the prosecutor’s office came back with bad news. — Tim Stelloh, NBC news, 2 Oct. 2026

The failure was bad news for scientists who rely on data from Swift, which has unique capabilities combining sensitivity to gamma rays, X-rays, and visible light with the agility to quickly turn toward astronomical targets. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 1 Oct. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1917, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for bad news

• accrues
• accuse
• aircrews
• amuse
• bamboos
• breakthroughs
• canoes
• cashews
• chartreuse
• confuse
• construes
• defuse