Definition

1. Adjective:
   • Behaving in a dishonorable, unscrupulous, or wicked manner; characteristic of a blackguard (a scoundrel or villain). It describes actions or individuals that are profoundly lacking in moral principles or decency.

Examples of Usage

• Adjective:
  • His blackguardly behavior shocked the entire community. (His utterly dishonorable conduct shocked everyone.)
  • The novel's antagonist is a blackguardly nobleman who cheats at cards. (The villain is a scoundrelly nobleman.)
  • They were known for their blackguardly treatment of servants. (Their treatment of servants was notoriously wicked and unscrupulous.)

Advanced Usage

• Used attributively to modify nouns describing actions or qualities:
  • It was a blackguardly trick to play on a friend. (It was a despicable trick.)
  • He was accused of blackguardly conduct. (He was accused of villainous behavior.)

Variants and Related Words

• Blackguard (n): A person, especially a man, who behaves in a dishonorable or contemptible way; a scoundrel.
  • He was nothing but a blackguard who took advantage of the poor.
• Blackguardism (n): The conduct or character of a blackguard.
  • The politician's career was marked by blackguardism and corruption.

Synonyms

• Scoundrelly: Behaving like a scoundrel; villainous.
• Rascally: Of or like a rascal; mischievous and dishonest.
• Roguish: Characteristic of a rogue; deceitful and unprincipled.
• Villainous: Relating to or characteristic of a villain; wicked.
• Dastardly: Wicked and cruel.

Antonyms

• Honorable: Characterized by integrity and ethical principles.
• Noble: Having fine personal qualities and high moral principles.
• Upright: Strictly honest or honorable.
• Principled: Acting in accordance with morality and ethics.

Notes on Usage

• The term blackguardly is a strong, formal, and somewhat archaic adjective. It is used for severe condemnation of a person's character or actions, implying a deep-seated lack of honor.
• It is derived from the noun blackguard, which originally referred to low-ranking servants or menials but evolved to mean a contemptible person.

Adjective

1. lacking principles or scruples
   • the rascally rabble
   • the tyranny of a scoundrelly aristocracy - W.M. Thackaray
   • the captain was set adrift by his roguish crew