Bad dream meaning is explained below using 6 different sources. Each interpretation is shown with its source.

Interpretation 1 — Nancy Wagaman

An event that you consider to be bad can represent something real or imagined that you consider undesirable.

Considering a person or their actions to be bad can mean: you’ve (consciously or subconsciously) labelled them as “bad”, you’re feeling threatened by them physically, emotionally, or mentally, you’re feeling insecure, possibly from comparing yourself to them, you’re attempting to make yourself feel better by judging them, you’re trying to distance yourself from them mentally or emotionally.

When you consider something or someone to be bad, be careful that your judgments and mental labels aren’t keeping you from seeing the true meaning or value (such as the real person and their value, or the usefulness or lesson in the situation).

See Catching Someone, Evil, Problem, Inferior, Disobeying, Luck, Judgment or Disapproval, Right or Wrong

Source: The Curious Dreamer’s Dream Dictionary Author: Nancy Wagaman

Interpretation 2 — Pamela Ball

1- When we dream of something being bad we are being made aware that the dream object is now worthless or defective. Feeling bad can have two meanings; one in the sense of being naughty and the other not feeling right. We are off balance in some way.

2- Our thought processes are corrupt.

If we dream of food being bad, we are not taking sufficient care of our inner needs.

A bad smell in dreams could mean that our environment is not supporting us.

3- Acknowledgement of Evil through a ‘bad thing’.

Source: Ten Thousand Dream Dictionary Author: Pamela Ball

Interpretation 3 — Versatile - Anonymous

Material aspects: When we dream of something being bad we are being made aware that the dream object is now worthless or defective. Feeling bad can have two meanings: one in the sense of being naughty and the other not feeling right. We are off balance in some way.
Source: Dream Meanings of Versatile Author: Versatile - Anonymous

Interpretation 4 — Versatile - Anonymous

Psychological / emotional perspective: If we dream of food being bad, we are not taking sufficient care of our inner needs.

A bad smell in dreams could mean that our environment is not supporting us. Bad as in bad behaviour suggests we are rebelling in some way.

Source: Dream Meanings of Versatile Author: Versatile - Anonymous

Interpretation 5 — Versatile - Anonymous

Spiritually, anything that is bad or decaying has finished a positive cycle and is entering a negative one. Whilst a perfectly natural process, we do well to acknowledge this and dreaming of a ‘bad thing’ enables us to move on.
Source: Dream Meanings of Versatile Author: Versatile - Anonymous

Interpretation 6 — Margaret Hamilton

Revealed in order to lessen or avert
Source: Dream Dictionary Unlimited Author: Margaret Hamilton