dastardly

[ das-terd-lee ]

adjective

1. cowardly; meanly base; sneaking:

   a dastardly act.

dastardly

/ ˈdæstədlɪ /

adjective

1. mean and cowardly

Derived Forms

• ˈdastardliness, noun

Other Words From

• dastard·li·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of dastardly¹

First recorded in 1560–70; dastard + -ly

Example Sentences

Joined by his wife Katie, he plunges into another assignment, as he tries to get the "spirit of Christmas" back from the dastardly humbugs.

From BBC

I followed Mr Whelan’s case closely in Moscow from the very start and remember the day he first arrived in court looking more like a dazed librarian than a dastardly intelligence agent.

From BBC

That dastardly cat had lurked in the shadows by the door.

From Literature

There was no longer any need for a psychopath to be furtive about his dastardly designs.

From Salon

That's the designated "manager" of the Mayorkas impeachment complaining that the dastardly Democrats didn't tell the Republicans that Congressman Al Green, D-Tx., who was in the hospital, was planning to attend the vote.

From Salon

Related Words

• contemptible
• cowardly
• despicable
• underhanded
• vile