BASTARDY Synonyms: 4 Similar and Opposite Words

bastardy

noun

ˈba-stər-dē

as in illegitimacy

the state or fact of being born out of wedlock acutely conscious of his bastardy, he always felt the need to prove himself

Synonyms & Similar Words

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Antonyms & Near Antonyms

legitimacy

Example 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 bastardy Johanna Luthman, a historian at the University of North Georgia, has worked for years to understand the practice and repercussions of fornication, adultery and bastardy among the early 17th-century English aristocracy. —

Richard Davenport-Hines, WSJ, 11 Aug. 2017

Recent Examples of Synonyms for bastardy

illegitimacy

Noun

Ned wishes to reveal Joffrey’s illegitimacy, but is instead betrayed by Littlefinger (Aidan Gillen), imprisoned by Cersei, and beheaded in a public execution on Joffrey's orders.

— Brianna Zigler, Entertainment Weekly, 2 June 2026
By the time Eileen was born, the matter of illegitimacy was a permanent social anxiety.

— Literary Hub, Literary Hub, 8 May 2026