Word
dastardly
Phoneticsdas·tard·ly, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈdæstɝdɫi/
UK/dˈɑːstədli/
Definition
adj. cruel and unfair in a cowardly way. You use it for a person or plan that hurts others by cheating or sneaking.
adj. cowardly and cruelly dishonourable, marked by sneaky or unfair harm to others. Often applied to villains or underhand schemes in storytelling and moral judgment.
Examples
“The cartoon shows a dastardly villain with a black cape.”
“The local paper called the phone scam a dastardly trick against older residents.”
“The novel exposes its dastardly landlord, who forges letters and spreads lies while pretending to help his poor tenants.”
Examples
simple
“The cartoon shows a dastardly villain with a black cape.”
contextual
“The local paper called the phone scam a dastardly trick against older residents.”
complex
“The novel exposes its dastardly landlord, who forges letters and spreads lies while pretending to help his poor tenants.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “dastardly” in context.
Verb
01. brand as dastardly
“Critics branded the secret price-fixing deal as dastardly.”
verb + prep + adj
02. condemn as dastardly
“The council condemned the anonymous smear campaign as dastardly.”
verb + prep + adj
Noun
03. dastardly act
“Leaking her private emails was a dastardly act.”
adj + noun
04. dastardly attack
“The newspaper called the night-time bombing a dastardly attack.”
adj + noun
05. dastardly betrayal
“Selling team secrets to rivals was a dastardly betrayal.”
adj + noun
06. dastardly crime
“Stealing medicine from elderly patients is a dastardly crime.”
adj + noun
07. dastardly deed
“History remembers his betrayal as a dastardly deed.”
adj + noun
08. dastardly murder
“The detective novel opens with a dastardly murder in a country house.”
adj + noun
09. a dastardly act of cruelty
“Abandoning refugees in the desert was a dastardly act of cruelty.”
10. a dastardly attack on civilians
“The bombing was condemned worldwide as a dastardly attack on civilians.”
11. a downright dastardly trick
“Luring elderly people into fake investments was a downright dastardly trick.”
12. condemn the plot as dastardly
“Opposition leaders condemned the plot to rig votes as dastardly.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies.
Etymology
From dastard + -ly.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Related words
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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