badland

noun

bad·​land ˈbad-ˌland How to pronounce badland (audio)
Synonyms of badlandnext
: a region marked by intricate erosional sculpturing, scanty vegetation, and fantastically formed hills
—usually plural

Examples of badland in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hell’s Half Acre — a 320-acre badlands rock formation area — reopened to the public in May after a 20-year hiatus. — Irene Middleman Thomas, Denver Post, 27 Sep. 2026 In 2016, David DeMar was doing field work in the rocky badlands of Montana in what's known as the Hell Creek Formation. — Ari Daniel, NPR, 10 Sep. 2026 The new season sees Daryl (Norman Reedus) and Carol (Melissa McBride) cross the badlands of Spain. — Isabelle Farina, Variety, 8 Sep. 2026 North Dakota’s badlands served as both a forge and a retreat for Roosevelt (a dedicated conservationist), who lived and ranched nearby in the 1880s, still reeling from the deaths of his wife and mother on the very same day. — Alicia Underlee Nelson, Midwest Living, 7 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for badland

Word History

First Known Use

1850, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of badland was in 1850

Rhymes for badland

See All Rhymes for badland

Browse Nearby Words

badjoo
badland
Badlands
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Badland.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/badland. Accessed 20 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

badland

noun
bad·​land ˈbad-ˌland How to pronounce badland (audio)
: a region where natural forces have worn away the soft rocks into sharp and complicated shapes and where plant life is scarce
—usually used in plural

More from Merriam-Webster on badland

Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for badland

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about badland

Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

Listen to the pronunciation of compunction

See Definitions and Examples »

Popular in Grammar & Usage

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

The Exceptions of '-s' and '-es' Plurals

Is it 'nerve-racking' or 'nerve-wracking'?

What's the difference between 'fascism' and 'socialism'?
See More

Popular in Wordplay

See More

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

7 Words for Bad Endings and Rough Situations

Did 'orange' the fruit or the color come first?
See More

Popular

See More

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

16 Food Words Recently Added to the Dictionary

The Real Origin of 'Supercalifragilistic'
See More

Games & Quizzes

See All
Play Quordle: Guess all four words in a limited number of tries. Each of your guesses must be a real 5-letter word.
Quordle Can you solve 4 words at once?
Play Blossom: Solve today's spelling word game by finding as many words as you can using just 7 letters. Longer words score more points.
Blossom Pick the best words!
Play Missing Letter: a crossword with a twist. Each of the 25 puzzle words start with a different letter of the alphabet. Which letter is missing?
The Missing Letter A daily crossword with a twist
artwork of illustrated limes with the text limes and smile with an arrow connecting the two words
Quiz: Spot the Anagram! Scramble these words to find new words with the e...
See All