DASTARDLY Synonyms: 61 Similar and Opposite Words

Q: How does the adjective 'dastardly' differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dastardly are cowardly , craven , and pusillanimous . While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous. // a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

Q: When is it sensible to use 'cowardly' instead of 'dastardly'?

The synonyms cowardly and dastardly are sometimes interchangeable, but cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage. // a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

Q: Where would 'craven' be a reasonable alternative to 'dastardly'?

The words craven and dastardly can be used in similar contexts, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance. // secretly despised her own craven yes-men

Q: When would 'pusillanimous' be a good substitute for 'dastardly'?

While the synonyms pusillanimous and dastardly are close in meaning, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage. // the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

dastardly

adjective

ˈda-stərd-lē

Definition of dastardly next

as in cowardly

having or showing a shameful lack of courage his dastardly conduct in a critical moment haunted him for the rest of his life

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How does the adjective dastardly differ from other similar words?

Some common synonyms of dastardly are cowardly, craven, and pusillanimous. While all these words mean "having or showing a lack of courage," dastardly often implies behavior that is both cowardly and treacherous or skulking or outrageous.

a dastardly attack on unarmed civilians

When is it sensible to use cowardly instead of dastardly?

The synonyms cowardly and dastardly are sometimes interchangeable, but cowardly implies a weak or ignoble lack of courage.

a cowardly failure to stand up for principle

Where would craven be a reasonable alternative to dastardly?

The words craven and dastardly can be used in similar contexts, but craven suggests extreme defeatism and complete lack of resistance.

secretly despised her own craven yes-men

When would pusillanimous be a good substitute for dastardly?

While the synonyms pusillanimous and dastardly are close in meaning, pusillanimous suggests a contemptible lack of courage.

the pusillanimous fear of a future full of possibility

Examples Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of dastardly Far from being some dastardly act of espionage and double-dealing, Cartwright made his fateful choice out of love. —

Erik Kain, Forbes, 2 Oct. 2024 Lydia’s ruffly red wedding dress from the original reappears on her in the sequel, as she’s once again coerced into marrying Keaton’s dastardly demon. —

Jack Smart, Peoplemag, 7 Sep. 2024 Vance immediately placed blame on President Biden for the dastardly attempt on Trump’s life, seeking to promote anger and division, his invective spewed before anything was known about the gunman. —

Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 18 July 2024 But when the Queen of Hearts (Rita Ora) pulls a dastardly coup, Red goes back in time with Cinderella’s daughter Chloe (Malia Baker) to stop the prank that turned her then-positive mom (Ruby Rose Turner) evil. —

Brian Truitt, USA TODAY, 12 July 2024 See all Example Sentences for dastardly

Recent Examples of Synonyms for dastardly

Adjective

Because, in this land of weak governments and cowardly corporations, the Coastal Commission is the rare California institution with a spine.

Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024
The latter has become a franchise so hobbled by its cowardly inability to commit to anything other than its original characters (especially the Skywalkers) and ideas (good versus evil) that it’s basically become stuck inside itself.

Nicholas Quah, Vulture, 8 Aug. 2024