Bad Dreams and Nightmares?

Question

I keep hearing that these two terms are used for different things.

If there is any difference, what's the difference between a bad dream and a nightmare?

Answer 1

A bad dream is one in which the dreamer just didn't enjoy at all. If the dreamer was a movie critic he/she would rate it a (0.5/5 stars).

A nightmare on the other hand is a dream that terrified the dreamer or left them in a state of sadness when they awoke.

Usually people confuse the two, and say "I had a bad dream, my dad died in it" when they should have said "I had a nightmare, my dad died in it"

Answer 2

Nightmares are lucid and vivid and bad dreams are not so intense.

Answer 3

a nightmarew is suposed to be worse than a bad dream