baddish
|bad-ish|
/ˈbædɪʃ/
somewhat bad
Etymology
'baddish' originates from English, formed from the adjective 'bad' plus the suffix '-ish' (from Old English '-isc'), where '-ish' meant 'having the qualities of' or 'somewhat like'.
The element 'bad' has been in English since Old/Middle English, while the suffix '-ish' comes from Old English '-isc' and developed into Middle English '-ish'; together they produced colloquial formations like 'baddish' in modern English to mean 'somewhat bad'.
Initially a literal composition meaning 'having the qualities of bad', the formed adjective came to be used informally to mean 'somewhat bad' or 'slightly naughty' in contemporary usage.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
somewhat bad; of mediocre or inferior quality (informal).
The movie was a bit baddish — the script had some good ideas, but the execution was weak.
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Adjective 2
having mildly bad or naughty qualities; slightly wicked or mischievous (informal, often jocular).
He was acting a little baddish when he teased his sister about her new haircut.
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Last updated: 2025/12/29 22:54