Definition

Adjective: 1. Despicably cowardly; characterized by underhanded malice or cruelty: Describes actions or behavior that are both contemptibly cowardly and treacherously evil, often involving sneaky or unfair attacks on those who are defenseless or unsuspecting.

Usage

The adjective "dastardly" is used to describe actions, plans, or behavior, not people directly. It carries a strong negative and often dramatic or literary tone, implying a combination of cowardice and wickedness. - It typically modifies nouns like act, deed, attack, plot, scheme, crime. - It is a formal and emphatic word, often found in historical narratives, literature, or strong condemnations.

Examples

• The king was betrayed by a dastardly plot orchestrated by his most trusted advisor.
• The general condemned the enemy's dastardly act of attacking the medical convoy.
• In the old mystery novel, the villain was known for his dastardly schemes to cheat the innocent townspeople.

Advanced Usage

• "dastardly coward": While "dastardly" inherently means "despicably cowardly," it can be used for emphasis in phrases like this, though it is somewhat redundant.
  • He was nothing but a dastardly coward who would never face his opponent fairly.
• Used in a historical or rhetorical context for strong condemnation:
  • The document listed the king's dastardly abuses of power.

Variants and Related Words

• Dastard : A contemptible coward; a person who commits malicious and cowardly acts.
  • He was branded a dastard for his treachery.
• Dastardliness : The quality of being dastardly.
  • The dastardliness of the crime shocked the community.

Synonyms

• Cowardly: Lacking courage. (Less strong in implying malice than "dastardly").
• Despicable: Deserving hatred and contempt.
• Underhanded: Acting or done in a secret or dishonest way.
• Treacherous: Guilty of or involving betrayal or deception.
• Nefarious: Wicked or criminal.

Antonyms

• Heroic: Showing extreme courage.
• Honorable: Deserving respect and admiration.
• Noble: Having fine personal qualities or high moral principles.
• Courageous: Not deterred by danger or pain; brave.

Idioms and Fixed Phrases

• A dastardly deed: A classic phrase used to describe a particularly cowardly and evil act.
  • The pirate captain was infamous for his dastardly deeds.

Adjective

1. despicably cowardly
   • the unprovoked and dastardly attack by Japan on...December 7th- F.D. Roosevelt