adj

dastardly

DAHS-tuhd-lee

Dastardly (adj) means Cowardly and treacherous, especially in a sneaky or underhanded way. Example: “The villain hatched a dastardly plot to sabotage the race.”

adj

Cowardly and treacherous, especially in a sneaky or underhanded way.

"The villain hatched a dastardly plot to sabotage the race."

"It was a dastardly betrayal of his closest friend."

How to use dastardly

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishDescribes a plan or act that is both cowardly and sly — the classic word for a cartoon villain's scheme.

When to use it

Slightly old-fashioned and often used with a hint of humour, especially describing melodramatic villains.

Common pairings

dastardly plot dastardly deed dastardly villain

Word forms

dastardlier comparative, dastardliest superlative

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The villain hatched a _____ plot to sabotage the race.

Etymology

From dastard ("a cowardly, sneaky person") plus the adjective suffix -ly.

Rhymes for dastardly

hardly cowardly outwardly awkwardly

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Frequently asked questions

What does “dastardly” mean?

The word “dastardly” means cowardly and treacherous, especially in a sneaky or underhanded way. In plain terms, describes a plan or act that is both cowardly and sly — the classic word for a cartoon villain's scheme.

How do you pronounce “dastardly”?

“Dastardly” is pronounced DAHS-tuhd-lee (/ˈdæstɚdli/ in IPA).

How do you use “dastardly” in a sentence?

Here is “dastardly” used in a sentence: “The villain hatched a dastardly plot to sabotage the race.”

What part of speech is “dastardly”?

“Dastardly” is an adjective.