# bastardly

/ˈbæstɚdli/ (US) · CEFR C2 · Adjective

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/bastardly
Updated: 2026-08-23

## Definition

cruel, mean, or unfair in the way you treat others. This word is old-fashioned and rare in modern English.

For teachers: cruel, mean, or contemptible in character or behaviour. Rare in contemporary usage; largely supplanted by 'bastard' as noun modifier.

## Examples

- That was a bastardly trick to play on her.
- The old landlord had a bastardly reputation for evicting tenants over minor delays in rent.
- In the novel's opening chapters, the protagonist endures a bastardly apprenticeship under a master who delights in humiliation.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.