Dastard

A Dastard is a cowardly and mean-spirited person, typically someone who resorts to underhanded tactics to harm others. They often lack courage, displaying a willingness to inflict pain or hardship on the vulnerable while avoiding personal risk. Their actions are driven by selfishness and a lack of empathy, often betraying trust and principles in pursuit of self-preservation or advantage. The word implies a degree of contempt for the individual's character.

Dastard meaning with examples

• The Dastard hid behind his friends during the fight, only emerging when the situation was safe to claim credit and taunt his defeated enemies, proving his lack of true courage and honor.
• Despite overwhelming evidence of his misdeeds, the dastardly CEO used his power and influence to evade responsibility, leaving his employees and investors to suffer the consequences of his actions.
• The historical account painted the villain as a Dastard, detailing his treacherous acts of betrayal and cowardly ambushes which resulted in the decimation of the allied forces at a crucial battle.
• Accused of spreading vicious rumors to undermine his political rivals, the Dastard refused to own up to his actions. He hid behind the guise of freedom of speech while the victim's lives were destroyed.
• In the adventure novel, the dastardly pirate captured the innocent heroine, holding her hostage and using her as a pawn in his scheme to seize control of the treasure and escape unharmed.