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
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
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 Envision that a dastardly person opts instead to place some form of weaponization into the autonomous vehicle rather than the more peaceful notion of grocery bags. 
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 July 2022 The dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham plans to rally his troops in his fortress, protected by a large moat with only a single drawbridge. Richard Malena, Popular Mechanics, 21 July 2022 Battle Royal subplots included Jinder Mahal eliminating Shanky and the dastardly Miz costing AJ Styles an opportunity by faking a knee injury only to eliminate him. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 28 June 2022 Neither reason nor moral suasion can deter Wanda from her dastardly mission; thus Strange, his longtime ally Wong (Benedict Wong), Christine, and America herself have no choice but to challenge the all-powerful sorceress in cataclysmic combat. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 May 2022 But what Manuela doesn't know is that her fiancé is the real dastardly pirate, long retired. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 10 June 2022 The edgy novelist’s new book imagines a wholly realistic medieval village rife with plagues and schemes and dastardly characters. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022 Iain Batchelor is a master of disguise playing double roles as the overprotective Scottish Colonel Arbuthnot and the dastardly Samuel Ratchett. Michelle F. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2022 After Charlie’s powers become noticed, a dastardly government operative (Gloria Reuben) dispatches Rainbird to hunt down the family and take possession of Charlie. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2022 See More
Lance Eliot, Forbes, 25 July 2022 The dastardly Sheriff of Nottingham plans to rally his troops in his fortress, protected by a large moat with only a single drawbridge. Richard Malena, Popular Mechanics, 21 July 2022 Battle Royal subplots included Jinder Mahal eliminating Shanky and the dastardly Miz costing AJ Styles an opportunity by faking a knee injury only to eliminate him. Alfred Konuwa, Forbes, 28 June 2022 Neither reason nor moral suasion can deter Wanda from her dastardly mission; thus Strange, his longtime ally Wong (Benedict Wong), Christine, and America herself have no choice but to challenge the all-powerful sorceress in cataclysmic combat. Richard Brody, The New Yorker, 10 May 2022 But what Manuela doesn't know is that her fiancé is the real dastardly pirate, long retired. Maureen Lee Lenker, EW.com, 10 June 2022 The edgy novelist’s new book imagines a wholly realistic medieval village rife with plagues and schemes and dastardly characters. Bethanne Patrick, Los Angeles Times, 31 May 2022 Iain Batchelor is a master of disguise playing double roles as the overprotective Scottish Colonel Arbuthnot and the dastardly Samuel Ratchett. Michelle F. Solomon, Sun Sentinel, 25 May 2022 After Charlie’s powers become noticed, a dastardly government operative (Gloria Reuben) dispatches Rainbird to hunt down the family and take possession of Charlie. Frank Scheck, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 May 2022 See More Word History
First Known Use
1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Kids Definition
dastardly
adjective
das·tard·ly ˈda-stərd-lē
: very mean and tricky
a dastardly deed
They nabbed the dastardly traitor.
dastardly
adjective
as in cowardly
having or showing a shameful lack of courage his dastardly conduct in a critical moment haunted him for the rest of his life Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- cowardly
- craven
- afraid
- scared
- pusillanimous
- frightened
- unheroic
- gutless
- yellow
- spineless
- poltroon
- careful
- recreant
- lily-livered
- chicken
- timid
- fearful
- chickenhearted
- cautious
- weak
- timorous
- feeble
- diffident
- milk-livered
- chicken-livered
- wary
- coy
- fainthearted
- unmanly
- bashful
- shy
- soft
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- daring
- heroic
- valiant
- brave
- gallant
- intrepid
- courageous
- brazen
- hardy
- valorous
- audacious
- stalwart
- dauntless
- bold
- fearless
- gutsy
- stout
- cheeky
- heroical
- plucky
- spirited
- doughty
- nervy
- lionhearted
- stouthearted
- spunky
- resolute
- greathearted
- determined
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of dastardly are cowardly, craven, and pusillanimous. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.
a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians
The synonyms cowardly and dastardly are sometimes interchangeable, but cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.
a cowardly failure to stand up for principle
The words craven and dastardly can be used in similar contexts, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.
secretly despised her own craven yes-men
While the synonyms pusillanimous and dastardly are close in meaning, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.
the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility