dastardly

adjective das·tard·ly \-lē\

: very cruel : using tricks to hurt people

Full Definition of DASTARDLY

: cowardly

: characterized by underhandedness or treachery <a dastardly attack> <a dastardly villain>

— das·tard·li·ness noun

See dastardly defined for English-language learners

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>.

DASTARDLY 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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