dastardly
adjective
das·tard·ly
ˈda-stərd-lē 
1
: cowardly
2
: characterized by underhandedness or treachery
a dastardly attack
a dastardly villain
dastardliness
noun
Examples of dastardly in a Sentence
a dastardly attack on innocent civilians
his dastardly conduct in a critical moment haunted him for the rest of his life
Recent Examples on the Web
However, the big reveal of a Scooby being portrayed by a real dog in the show will make even the most dastardly villain's heart melt.
—
Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
My earliest World Cup memory—a six-year-old’s spiral of indignation and despair—is of Diego Maradona’s dastardly Hand of God, which eliminated England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 edition, in Mexico.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
As Rip held him, Beth plunged the knife into her dastardly brother, who had orchestrated their father's death, to finish Jamie off once and for all.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
That dastardly group loved pollution.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dastardly
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Marina Watts, Entertainment Weekly, 8 June 2026
My earliest World Cup memory—a six-year-old’s spiral of indignation and despair—is of Diego Maradona’s dastardly Hand of God, which eliminated England in the quarterfinals of the 1986 edition, in Mexico.
—Sam Knight, New Yorker, 1 June 2026
As Rip held him, Beth plunged the knife into her dastardly brother, who had orchestrated their father's death, to finish Jamie off once and for all.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 15 May 2026
That dastardly group loved pollution.
—Tony Maglio, HollywoodReporter, 6 May 2026
See All Example Sentences for dastardly
Cite this Entry
“Dastardly.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/dastardly. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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