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 of dastardly

• cowardly
• afraid
• craven
• scared
• frightened
• pusillanimous
• yellow
• unheroic
• careful
• gutless
• spineless
• recreant

Choose the Right Synonym for 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

Examples of dastardly in a Sentence

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

Meanwhile, Glinda has become the literal poster child for goodness, a part of the propaganda machine against Elphaba honchoed by the Wizard and the dastardly Madame Morrible (Michelle Yeoh). —Brian Truitt, USA Today, 18 Nov. 2025

And Dakota is a dastardly dog, so this is obviously not the correct vibe. —Olivia Crandall, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

But the couple have yet to conceive an heir, so when Jerome absconds and his dashing friend Manfred (Galitzine) arrives with dastardly intentions, Hero (Corrin), Cherry’s wily and loyal maid, is forced to concoct a plan to distract Manfred by telling captivating stories about rebellious women. —Lily Ford, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2025

View second photo for some insight on his dastardly ways. —Maria Azzurra Volpe, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Oct. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1542, in the meaning defined at sense 1