If the place sucked, you can diplomatically point out it was a challenging experience (not ideal) and you learned a lot from it. Just don't dwell on the negative. Emphasizing the opportunities you're hoping to find in your next job might give the interviewer the impression you didn't find it to be a good fit.
Why do you think I'm switching jobs, because it is so great I can't handle being so happy at a job so I have to switch? Or maybe because it is shit. But you can't say that. I tried being honest didn't work. I tried lying, it worked very well.
Now, I don't know about you, but I'd rather not knowingly hire in this sort of toxicity. Tough love and unfiltered opinions (honesty) can simply be an excuse for being an asshole when there are other options.
The person can calmly describe that there were pre-existing problems, though, hint and be honest at them (but not dwell), and go on about how they learned some life lessons and so on. When describing the issues, use fairly neutral, non-value-based terms.
So instead of saying, "The company is shit", you can say things like, "I'm not happy at the company" or "I don't feel like i*m a good fit for the culture there". Perhaps your honesty needs help with presentation.
By the tone you write in, my guess is arrogance may have played a role when it didn’t work. But what do I know, I’m an interviewer :)
When you sense that things are going bad (company is downsizing, running out of money, boss hates you, etc.) then it's time to start looking for another job.
It is much easier to land a job when you still have one. It also means the new company will unlikely call your current employer for a reference.
Finally, it allows you to leave on your own terms rather than get fired/laid off.
So your last work environment was a disaster and you got fired? Here's how to describe it in your next interview: It was a GREAT PLACE to work, I loved it, so many great learning experiences! Unfortunately the objectives of the company shifted away from my core experiences and I wasn't needed, so they had to let me go. But GREAT people there.
Seriously.