Question

Which of the following is an informal definition of dastardly?

Today’s Word of the Day is dastardly, an adjective meaning rotten or despicable.


Disney movies are a comfort in bleak times. The dastardly villain tries to carry out an evil scheme, but is always defeated by the noble hero (or heroine!) in the end.


The dictionary says dastardly means wicked, but my experience with Saturday morning cartoons taught me that the definition should also include an oily mustache or eye patch, as well. To this day, I still suspect that anyone with facial hair or one eye is up to no good.


Fairy tales are full of princes and dragons and dastardly deeds.

Answer 1

The informal definition of "dastardly" is given in the second paragraph: "Disney movies are a comfort in bleak times. The dastardly villain tries to carry out an evil scheme, but is always defeated by the noble hero (or heroine!) in the end."

In this context, "dastardly" is used to describe a wicked or despicable villain.