dastard
Mean, treacherous fellow
A dastard is a coward, especially one who acts treacherously or meanly.
The word is archaic and literary, carrying a sense of contemptible sneakiness beyond simple fear: The dastard fled while his companions fought.
The related adjective dastardly remains more common, describing acts that are both cowardly and underhanded.
Contemptibly lacking nerve
- poltroonAbject coward
- recreantDisloyal coward
- cowardPerson lacking bravery
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
fainthearted · chickenhearted · gutless · spineless · yellow-bellied · timorous · lily-livered · white-feathered
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- blackguardContemptible, dishonest person
miscreant · wretch · cad · rascal · varlet · cur · heel · lout
Morally worthless, beneath regard
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- lowNot elevated
- ignobleLacking moral character
dishonorable · shameful · disgraceful · contemptible · detestable · loathsome · abject · sordid
craven
Contemptibly lacking nerve
pusillanimous · fainthearted · chickenhearted · gutless · spineless · yellow-bellied · timorous · lily-livered · white-feathered · sniveling
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
blackguard · miscreant · wretch · cad · rascal · varlet · cur · heel · lout · reprobate
despicable
Morally worthless, beneath regard
ignoble · dishonorable · shameful · disgraceful · contemptible · detestable · loathsome · abject · sordid · wretched
backstabber
Disloyal pretend ally
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
traitor · Judas · quisling · snake · rat · fink · deceiver · perfidious · faithless · disloyal
malicious
Meaning to do harm
- mean-spiritedUnkind in a petty way
- cruelWillfully causing suffering
- viciousCruelly aggressive in nature
brutal · ruthless · merciless · callous · heartless · cold-blooded · sadistic · fiendish · beastly · inhuman