dastardly

adjective

das·​tard·​ly ˈda-stərd-lē 

1

: cowardly

2

: characterized by underhandedness or treachery

a dastardly attack

a dastardly villain

dastardliness noun

Synonyms

• chicken
• chicken-livered
• chickenhearted
• cowardly
• craven
• gutless
• lily-livered
• milk-livered [archaic]
• poltroon
• pusillanimous
• recreant
• spineless
• unheroic
• yellow

Choose the Right Synonym for dastardly

cowardly, pusillanimous, craven, dastardly mean having or showing a lack of courage.

cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

Examples of dastardly in a Sentence

a dastardly attack on innocent civilians

his dastardly conduct in a critical moment haunted him for the rest of his life

Recent Examples on the Web

The resulting Trump is so familiar that even his most dastardly behaviors feel a bit flat, and the film begins to bore. —Sarah Jones, Vulture, 21 Oct. 2024

As their parents unite to battle the dastardly scam which has brought their town to financial ruin, the team is embroiled in a mysterious bank robbery. —John Hopewell, Variety, 2 Nov. 2024

Its climax pits gentleman thief Arsène Lupin III against the dastardly Count Lazare de Cagliostro, with their rivalry culminating in a sweeping duel — the Count with a rapier, Lupin with a giant wrench — inside of the titular castle’s clock tower. —Vikram Murthi, Vulture, 4 Mar. 2024

All that remains from this dastardly deed are the Gates to Hell, which welcome thrill-seekers ready to embrace their deepest, darkest fears. —Sarah Kuta, The Denver Post, 3 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1