dastards
Mean contemptible wretches
Dastards is the plural of dastard, an old-fashioned word for a coward—specifically one who acts meanly or treacherously while avoiding danger.
The word survives mainly in its adjective form dastardly, which describes cowardly and underhanded villainy: a dastardly scheme.
Dastard itself sounds archaic or theatrical: Those dastards fled at the first sign of trouble.
Contemptibly lacking nerve
- poltroonAbject coward
- recreantDisloyal coward
- milksopFeeble, unassertive person
- pusillanimousLacking courage or determination
fainthearted · spineless · gutless · chickenhearted · lily-livered · white-livered · yellow · cowering
Morally worthless, beneath regard
- contemptibleDeserving strong disrespect
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
- ignobleLacking moral character
mean · low · shameful · disgraceful · dishonorable · ignominious · abject · sordid
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
- wretchPitiable or base person
miscreant · blackguard · reprobate · cad · heel · rascal · lowlife · ne'er-do-well
Disloyal pretend ally
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
- traitorOne who betrays allegiance
deceiver · schemer · sneak · perfidious · underhanded · duplicitous · untrustworthy · disloyal
craven
Contemptibly lacking nerve
pusillanimous · fainthearted · spineless · gutless · chickenhearted · lily-livered · white-livered · yellow · cowering · shrinking
despicable
Morally worthless, beneath regard
- contemptibleDeserving strong disrespect
- baseSupporting bottom structure
- vileExtremely unpleasant or bad
ignoble · mean · low · shameful · disgraceful · dishonorable · ignominious · abject · sordid · wretched
scoundrel
Dishonest, unscrupulous person
- villainWicked story antagonist
- knaveDishonest, unprincipled person
- rogueDishonest or uncontrolled agent
wretch · miscreant · blackguard · reprobate · cad · heel · rascal · lowlife · ne'er-do-well · evildoer
backstabber
Disloyal pretend ally
- betrayerOne who breaks allegiance
- double-crosserOne who deceives confederates
- turncoatOne who betrays allegiance
traitor · deceiver · schemer · sneak · perfidious · underhanded · duplicitous · untrustworthy · disloyal · false
dastardsheroes
Admired courageous figures
brave souls · stalwarts · gallants · warriors · daredevils
dastardschampions
Contest winners, top performers
paladins · white knights · good guys · protagonists · crusaders