dastardliness
Sneaky cruel behavior
The quality of being dastardly—sneaky, cowardly, and malicious.
Dastardliness implies not just cruelty but a skulking unwillingness to face consequences: The dastardliness of the plot shocked even hardened investigators.
The word sounds old-fashioned and slightly theatrical, often used with ironic or melodramatic flair.
Contemptible lack of bravery
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- faintheartednessLacking resolve or nerve
- spinelessnessLack of courage
- timidityFearful lack of courage
fearfulness · yellow-bellied · wimpiness · sneakiness · skulking · shrinking · gutlessness · chickenhearted
Moral corruption or evil
- nefariousnessExtreme moral corruption
- basenessMoral worthlessness
- depravityProfound moral corruption
- heinousnessExtreme moral reprehensibility
infamy · ruthlessness · evil · despicableness · scoundrel · cad · knave · blackguard
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- meannessSpiteful, unkind disposition
- nastinessSpiteful or foul quality
- crueltyDeliberate harm-causing disposition
venom · vindictiveness · ill-will · hostility · bitterness · viciousness · hatefulness · spitefulness
Breaking of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossingBetraying someone's trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
- duplicityDeliberate misleading behavior
underhandedness · disloyalty · two-faced · sneakiness · deviousness · double-dealing · faithlessness · falseness
cravenness
Contemptible lack of bravery
- pusillanimityContemptible lack of courage
- faintheartednessLacking resolve or nerve
- spinelessnessLack of courage
timidity · fearfulness · yellow-bellied · wimpiness · sneakiness · skulking · shrinking · gutlessness · chickenhearted · lily-livered
wickedness
Moral corruption or evil
- nefariousnessExtreme moral corruption
- basenessMoral worthlessness
- depravityProfound moral corruption
heinousness · infamy · ruthlessness · evil · despicableness · scoundrel · cad · knave · blackguard
spite
Petty malicious intent
- malevolenceActive ill will
- meannessSpiteful, unkind disposition
- nastinessSpiteful or foul quality
cruelty · venom · vindictiveness · ill-will · hostility · bitterness · viciousness · hatefulness · spitefulness · maliciousness
betrayal
Breaking of trust
- backstabbingCovert betrayal of trust
- double-crossingBetraying someone's trust
- perfidyDeliberate breach of trust
duplicity · underhandedness · disloyalty · two-faced · sneakiness · deviousness · double-dealing · faithlessness · falseness · untrustworthiness