Dictionary
dastardly
adjective das·tard·ly \-lē\
: very cruel : using tricks to hurt people
Full Definition of DASTARDLY
1
: cowardly
2
: characterized by underhandedness or treachery <a dastardly attack> <a dastardly villain>
— das·tard·li·ness noun
See dastardly defined for English-language learners
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First Known Use of DASTARDLY
1542
Related to DASTARDLY
- Synonyms
- chicken, chickenhearted, chicken-livered, craven, cowardly, gutless, lily-livered, milk-livered [archaic], poltroon, pusillanimous, recreant, spineless, unheroic, yellow
- Antonyms
- brave, courageous, daring, dauntless, doughty, fearless, gallant, greathearted, gutsy, hardy, heroic (also heroical), intrepid, lionhearted, stalwart, stout, stouthearted, valiant, valorous
Synonym Discussion of 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>.
DASTARDLINESS Defined for Kids
dastardly
adjective das·tard·ly \ˈda-stərd-lē\
Definition of DASTARDLY for Kids
: very mean and tricky <a dastardly deed> <They nabbed the dastardly traitor.>
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