Histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitions are known to elicit anticancer effects. We designed and synthesized several HDAC inhibitors. Among these compounds, compound 40 exhibited a more than 10-fold stronger inhibitory activity compared with that of suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) against each human HDAC isozyme in vitro (IC50 values of 40: HDAC1, 0.0038μM; HDAC2, 0.0082μM; HDAC3, 0.015μM; HDAC8, 0.0060μM; HDAC4, 0.058μM; HDAC9, 0.0052μM; HDAC6, 0.058μM). The dose of the administered HDAC inhibitors that contain hydroxamic acid as the zinc-binding group may be reduced by 40. Because the carbostyril subunit is a time-tested structural component of drugs and biologically active compounds, 40 most likely exhibits good absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET). Thus, compound 40 is expected to be a promising therapeutic agent or chemical tool for the investigation of life process.