Dastardly Meaning in English

word

US

ˈdæstɝdɫi

DAST-erd-lee

UK

dˈɑːstədli

DAH-stuhd-lee

Definition

Describing an action that is wicked, sneaky, and cowardly—often intentionally cruel or underhanded.

Usage & Nuances

'Dastardly' is formal and dramatic, found more in literature, news, or when talking about villainous acts. Common collocations: 'dastardly deed', 'dastardly villain'. It's not used casually—don't use for ordinary mistakes or light wrongdoing.

• Spanish: vil - infame - cobarde
• Portuguese (BR): covarde - vil - traiçoeiro
• Portuguese (PT): cobarde - vil - traiçoeiro
• Chinese (Simplified): 卑鄙的 - 恶毒的
• Chinese (Traditional): 卑鄙的 - 惡毒的
• Hindi: कायरतापूर्ण - नीच
• Arabic: جبان - دنيء - شرير
• Bengali: কাপুরুষোচিত - পাষণ্ড - নৃশংস
• Russian: подлый - гнусный
• Japanese: 卑劣な - 悪質な
• Vietnamese: đê tiện - hèn hạ
• Korean: 비열한 - 사악한
• Turkish: alçakça - haince
• Urdu: کمینگی - بزدلانہ - سفاک
• Indonesian: jahat - pengecut

Example Sentences

The villain planned a dastardly crime.

basic

It was a dastardly attack on innocent people.

basic

Everyone was shocked by the dastardly deed.

basic

That was a dastardly trick—he pretended to be my friend.

natural

The movie's dastardly villain always has a new scheme.

natural

What a dastardly move—he betrayed his own team!

natural