blackguard

1 of 2

noun

black·​guard ˈbla-gərd How to pronounce blackguard (audio)
-ˌgärd;
ˈblak-ˌgärd
1
obsolete : the kitchen servants of a household
2
a
: a rude or unscrupulous person
b
: a person who uses foul or abusive language
blackguardism noun
blackguardly
ˈbla-gərd-lē How to pronounce blackguard (audio)
-ˌgärd-
adjective or adverb

blackguard

2 of 2

verb

blackguarded; blackguarding; blackguards

transitive verb

: to talk about or address in abusive terms

Examples of blackguard in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
The endurance of nationalism proves that there’s never any shortage of blackguards willing to prop up people’s sense of themselves and their destiny with a tissue of myths and prophecies, prejudices and hatreds, or to empty out old rubbish bags full of festering resentments and calls to violence. Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019 Despite all the worry about Fukushima, smokers have been inhaling radioactive particles for decadesNicotine - murder weapon of choice for the 19th century blackguard, by Deborah Blum. Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012 Edgar finds work in the hamlet of Dreng’s Ferry with Dreng himself, an all-around blackguard, but eventually Edgar’s intelligence and capability propel him into the building trade. Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2020

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'blackguard.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Noun

black entry 1 + guard entry 1

Verb

derivative of blackguard entry 1

First Known Use

Noun

1535, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

1742, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of blackguard was in 1535

Dictionary Entries Near blackguard

Cite this Entry

“Blackguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackguard. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

blackguard

noun
black·​guard
ˈblag-ərd,
-ˌärd;
ˈblak-ˌgärd
: a rude or dishonest person
blackguardly
-lē
adjective or adverb

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