1
obsolete
: the kitchen servants of a household
2
a
: a rude or unscrupulous person
b
: a person who uses foul or abusive language
blackguarded; blackguarding; blackguards
: to talk about or address in abusive terms
black·guard·ism
ˈbla-gər-ˌdi-zəm 
-ˌgär-
plural -s
: behavior characteristic of a blackguard (see blackguard sense 3a)
especially
: use of abusive language
Examples of blackguard in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2020
The endurance of nationalism proves that there’s never any shortage of blackguards willing to prop up people’s sense of themselves and their destiny with a tissue of myths and prophecies, prejudices and hatreds, or to empty out old rubbish bags full of festering resentments and calls to violence.
—Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019
Despite all the worry about Fukushima, smokers have been inhaling radioactive particles for decadesNicotine - murder weapon of choice for the 19th century blackguard, by Deborah Blum.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012
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Noun
Edgar finds work in the hamlet of Dreng’s Ferry with Dreng himself, an all-around blackguard, but eventually Edgar’s intelligence and capability propel him into the building trade.
—Washington Post, 17 Nov. 2020
The endurance of nationalism proves that there’s never any shortage of blackguards willing to prop up people’s sense of themselves and their destiny with a tissue of myths and prophecies, prejudices and hatreds, or to empty out old rubbish bags full of festering resentments and calls to violence.
—Jill Lepore, Foreign Affairs, 5 Feb. 2019
Despite all the worry about Fukushima, smokers have been inhaling radioactive particles for decadesNicotine - murder weapon of choice for the 19th century blackguard, by Deborah Blum.
—Ed Yong, Discover Magazine, 26 May 2012
Cite this Entry
“Blackguard.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/blackguard. Accessed 17 Jun. 2026.
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