something bad
An unfortunate situation
Something bad refers to an unspecified negative thing—a problem, misfortune, or harmful occurrence left vague either because the speaker doesn't know the details or chooses not to elaborate: I think something bad happened to him.
The phrase often carries ominous undertones, suggesting worse possibilities than the speaker wants to name directly.
Sudden ruinous event
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
- adversitySevere difficulty or suffering
setback · hardship · accident · loss · grief · curse · blight · woe
Physical or psychological harm
- damageHarm or impairment
- traumaLasting psychological wound
- woundCoiled, or an injury
- hurtCause or feel pain
abuse · destruction · violation · impairment · sabotage · vandalism · corrosion · deterioration
Persistent apprehensive distress
- stressPressure, mental or vocal
- tensionStretched or strained state
- pressureForce upon contact
- overwhelmDefeat by excess
burnout · fatigue · worry · exhaustion · strain · agitation · restlessness · anguish
Possibility of harm
- threatIndication of potential harm
- perilSerious threat of harm
- hazardSource of potential harm
- menaceSource of potential harm
jeopardy · emergency · crisis · minefield · pitfall · booby trap · ambush · snare
Intense anticipatory fear
- terrorExtreme, overwhelming fear
- horrorExtreme fear or disgust
- panicUncontrollable sudden fear
- frightSudden intense fear
alarm · nightmare · shock · phobia · apprehension · trepidation · foreboding · paranoia
Matter requiring resolution
- difficultyState of being hard
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
- dilemmaForced choice between undesirables
quandary · obstacle · challenge · setback · snag · bind · entanglement · impasse
disaster
Sudden ruinous event
- catastropheDevastating, large-scale misfortune
- calamitySevere misfortune or disaster
- tragedyDisastrous or sorrowful event
adversity · setback · hardship · accident · loss · grief · curse · blight · woe · tribulation
injury
Physical or psychological harm
hurt · abuse · destruction · violation · impairment · sabotage · vandalism · corrosion · deterioration · bruise
anxiety
Persistent apprehensive distress
overwhelm · burnout · fatigue · worry · exhaustion · strain · agitation · restlessness · anguish · suffering
risk
Possibility of harm
menace · jeopardy · emergency · crisis · minefield · pitfall · booby trap · ambush · snare · landslide
dread
Intense anticipatory fear
fright · alarm · nightmare · shock · phobia · apprehension · trepidation · foreboding · paranoia · jitters
problem
Matter requiring resolution
- difficultyState of being hard
- complicationFactor that adds difficulty
- predicamentDifficult, unpleasant situation
dilemma · quandary · obstacle · challenge · setback · snag · bind · entanglement · impasse · struggle