Words beginning with D

319 words

• dais — a raised platform for speakers at a public function
• damages — money a court orders as compensation for loss or injury
• dampen — to lessen the strength of a feeling or an activity
• data — facts and figures collected for study or decision-making
• daunt — to make someone lose courage
• dawn — the beginning of something new; daybreak
• deadlock — a situation in which no progress is possible because neither side will give way
• dearth — a serious shortage of something needed
• debacle — a sudden and complete failure
• debar — to formally shut someone out from a right or an activity
• debase — to lower the value, quality or dignity of something
• debilitate — to weaken seriously over time
• debris — scattered broken material left after destruction
• debt — money that is owed and must be repaid
• debut — a first public appearance or performance
• decadent — marked by moral decline and self-indulgence
• decay — to fall gradually into a worse or ruined condition
• deceit — the act of deliberately misleading someone
• deceive — to make someone believe something that is not true
• decentralise — to transfer powers from a central authority to local units
• deception — the act of deliberately creating a false impression
• deciduous — shedding its leaves once every year
• decimate — to destroy or sharply reduce a large part of something
• decisive — settling an issue once and for all; able to take firm decisions
• declaration — a formal or official statement
• declare — to state something formally and publicly
• decline — to decrease steadily; to refuse politely
• decorum — behaviour that is correct and dignified for the occasion
• decree — an official order or judgment having the force of law
• decry — to condemn something publicly and strongly
• dedicate — to give time or resources wholly to one purpose
• deduce — to reach a conclusion by reasoning from evidence
• deduct — to take an amount away from a total
• deem — to consider or regard in a particular way
• deface — to spoil the surface or appearance of something
• defamation — harming someone’s reputation by a false statement
• default — failure to meet an obligation, especially repayment
• defect — a fault or shortcoming in something
• defective — having a fault and therefore not working properly
• defendant — the person against whom a case is brought in court
• defer — to put off to a later date
• deference — respectful regard for another’s wishes or authority
• defiance — open refusal to obey authority
• deficiency — a lack or shortage of something needed
• deficient — not having enough of something
• deficit — the amount by which spending exceeds income
• define — to state exactly the meaning or the limits of something
• definitive — final and not open to further change or question
• deflation — a sustained fall in the general price level
• deflect — to turn something aside; to divert attention or blame
• deforestation — clearing of forest cover on a large scale
• deformity — a part of the body that is misshapen
• defraud — to cheat someone out of money or rights
• defray — to pay or provide the money for a cost
• deft — skilful and quick in handling something
• defunct — no longer existing or in operation
• defuse — to reduce the danger or tension in a situation
• defy — to openly refuse to obey
• degenerate — to decline into a worse or lower condition
• degradation — the process of being reduced in quality, value or dignity
• degrade — to lower the quality, value or dignity of something
• degree — the extent or amount of something
• dehydrate — to lose or remove water from the body or a substance
• delay — lateness in doing something; to make something late
• delegate — to entrust a task or authority to someone lower down
• delegation — a group sent to represent others; the handing over of powers
• deleterious — causing harm, especially gradually
• deliberate — done on purpose after thought
• deliberation — careful discussion before a decision is taken
• delimitation — the fixing of the boundaries of constituencies or areas
• delineate — to describe or mark out something precisely
• delinquent — guilty of an offence or of neglecting a duty
• deliver — to achieve what was promised
• delude — to mislead someone into believing something false
• deluge — a great flood; an overwhelming rush of something
• delusion — a false belief held in spite of the evidence
• demagogue — a leader who wins support by appealing to prejudice rather than reason
• demand — the quantity of a good that buyers are willing and able to buy at a given price
• demarcate — to fix or mark the boundary of something
• demean — to lower someone’s dignity
• demeanour — the way a person behaves and carries himself
• demise — death; the end of something that once existed
• democratic — based on rule by the people through elected representatives
• demography — the statistical study of populations and their structure
• demolish — to pull down a structure; to destroy an argument completely
• demonetisation — withdrawal of a currency note’s status as legal tender
• demonstrate — to show something clearly by evidence; to take part in a public protest
• demoralise — to destroy the confidence and morale of people
• demote — to reduce someone to a lower rank or grade
• demur — to raise an objection or hesitate before agreeing
• denial — a statement that something is untrue; refusal to grant something
• denigrate — to speak of someone or something in an unfairly critical way
• denote — to stand for or indicate something
• denounce — to condemn something publicly
• dense — closely packed together; difficult to see through
• dent — to make a noticeable reduction in something
• denude — to strip something bare, especially of its natural cover
• deny — to state that something is untrue; to refuse to give
• depart — to leave; to move away from an accepted course
• dependent — relying on someone or something else for support
• depict — to show or describe something in words or pictures
• deplete — to use up a resource until little is left
• deplorable — shockingly bad and deserving condemnation
• deplore — to express strong disapproval of something
• deploy — to position people or resources for effective use
• deployment — the act of positioning forces or resources where they are needed
• deport — to expel a foreign national from a country
• depose — to give sworn evidence; to remove a ruler from office
• deposit — a layer of material laid down by natural processes
• deposition — sworn testimony recorded in writing; the laying down of sediment
• depreciate — to fall in value over time
• depredation — an act of attacking and plundering
• depress — to reduce the level or the activity of something
• depression — a prolonged and severe downturn in economic activity
• deprivation — the lack of what is needed for a decent life
• deprive — to take away something a person needs or is entitled to
• deputation — temporary posting of an officer to another department or body
• depute — to appoint someone to act on one’s behalf
• derail — to disrupt a process so that it cannot continue
• deregulate — to remove government controls from an industry or a price
• derelict — abandoned and left in a ruined state; neglectful of duty
• deride — to mock or ridicule something
• derision — contemptuous ridicule
• derive — to obtain something from a particular source
• derogatory — showing disrespect; insulting
• desalination — the removal of salt from sea water to make it fit for use
• descend — to move down to a lower level or a lower standard
• descent — a downward movement; family origin
• desecrate — to treat a sacred place or object with violent disrespect
• desert — to abandon a person, a post or a duty
• desertification — the process by which fertile land turns into desert
• deserve — to be worthy of something because of one’s conduct or work
• designate — to assign a name, a status or a role officially
• desirable — worth having or worth wishing for
• desist — to stop doing something
• desolate — empty and bleak; deeply unhappy
• despair — complete loss of hope
• despatch — to send something off officially
• desperate — having little hope and ready to take any risk
• despicable — deserving contempt
• despise — to regard someone or something with contempt
• despite — in spite of; without being prevented by
• despondent — in low spirits from loss of hope
• despot — a ruler with absolute power who uses it oppressively
• destabilise — to upset the stability of a system or a government
• destined — intended or bound for a particular end or place
• destitute — without the means to live; extremely poor
• destitution — the state of extreme poverty
• desultory — without plan or enthusiasm, jumping from one thing to another
• detach — to separate one part from the whole
• detain — to keep someone in custody
• detention — the state of being kept in custody
• deter — to discourage someone from acting by the fear of consequences
• deteriorate — to become worse
• deterioration — a steady decline in condition or quality
• deterrent — something that discourages an action by the threat of consequences
• detest — to dislike something intensely
• detour — a longer route taken to avoid a blocked one
• detract — to make something seem less valuable than it is
• detriment — harm or damage caused to something
• detrimental — causing harm to something
• devaluation — an official reduction in the value of a currency
• devastate — to destroy or ruin something completely
• deviate — to depart from an established course or standard
• deviation — a departure from a standard or a norm
• devise — to plan or work out a method
• devoid — entirely lacking in something
• devolution — the transfer of powers and funds to lower levels of government
• devolve — to pass powers or duties down to a lower body
• devote — to give time or effort entirely to something
• devout — deeply religious and sincere in belief
• dexterity — skill in using the hands or the mind
• diagnose — to identify the exact nature of a problem or an illness
• dictate — to lay down terms that others are expected to follow
• dictum — a short authoritative statement, especially an observation made by a judge
• didactic — meant to teach, often in a heavy-handed moral way
• differentiate — to recognise or state what makes two things different
• diffident — lacking confidence in oneself
• diffuse — to spread something widely over an area or a group
• digress — to move away from the main subject while speaking or writing
• diktat — an order imposed without consulting those affected by it
• dilapidated — in a bad state of repair through age or neglect
• dilatory — tending to cause or take unnecessary delay
• dilemma — a difficult choice between two equally unwelcome options
• diligence — careful and persistent effort in doing one’s work
• diligent — working hard and carefully
• dilute — to weaken the strength or effect of something
• diminish — to become or make smaller, weaker or less important
• diminution — a reduction in size, extent or importance
• dire — extremely serious or urgent
• directive — an official instruction issued by an authority
• disaggregate — to break combined figures into their separate parts
• disallow — to refuse to accept or permit something officially
• disarray — a state of disorder and confusion
• disaster — a sudden event causing great damage or loss of life
• disavow — to deny any responsibility for or connection with something
• disband — to break up an organised group officially
• disburse — to pay out money from a sanctioned fund
• disbursement — the paying out of money that has been sanctioned
• discard — to throw away or set aside as no longer useful
• discern — to make out or perceive something that is not obvious
• discernible — able to be noticed or clearly understood
• discharge — to carry out a duty, or to release someone officially
• disciplinary — relating to punishment for a breach of service rules
• disclose — to make known information that was hidden
• disclosure — the act of making hidden information public
• disconcert — to unsettle or confuse someone
• discontent — dissatisfaction with one’s conditions or with those in authority
• discord — disagreement between people or groups
• discount — to dismiss something as unlikely or unimportant
• discourage — to persuade someone against an action, or to reduce their confidence
• discourse — serious discussion or writing on a subject
• discredit — to damage the good reputation of a person or a claim
• discreet — careful not to reveal what should stay private
• discrepancy — a difference between two accounts that ought to agree
• discrete — separate and individually distinct, not continuous
• discretion — the freedom to decide a matter on one’s own judgement
• discretionary — left to the judgement of the authority rather than fixed by rule
• discriminate — to treat one group unfairly in comparison with another
• discrimination — unfair treatment based on caste, gender, religion or the like
• disdain — contempt for something regarded as unworthy
• disenchanted — no longer believing in something one once admired
• disenfranchise — to deprive someone of the right to vote or of other rights
• disengage — to withdraw from an involvement or a confrontation
• disgruntled — angry and dissatisfied, usually over unfair treatment
• disguise — to hide the true nature of something
• disillusion — to free someone of a pleasant but mistaken belief
• disincentive — something that discourages a particular action
• disinclined — unwilling to do something
• disingenuous — pretending to be sincere while hiding one’s real motive
• disinterested — impartial, having no personal stake in the outcome
• disinvestment — the sale by government of its stake in a public enterprise
• dismal — depressingly bad or gloomy
• dismantle — to take apart a structure or a system piece by piece
• dismay — a feeling of shock and discouragement
• dismiss — to reject a case or a claim outright, or to remove someone from service
• disparage — to speak of someone or something as being of little worth
• disparate — made up of parts that are very different from one another
• disparity — a serious and unfair difference between groups
• dispassionate — not influenced by emotion; calm and objective
• dispatch — to send something off promptly and officially
• dispel — to drive away a doubt, fear or false belief
• dispensation — an official exemption from a rule; also a prevailing system of governance
• dispense — to give out or administer something to those entitled to it
• disperse — to scatter, or to make a crowd break up and move away
• displace — to force people to leave the place where they live
• displacement — the forced movement of people away from their homes
• disposal — the act of getting rid of something, or of finally settling a matter
• dispose — to deal with and finally settle a matter, as a court disposes of a case
• disposition — a person’s natural temperament or settled inclination
• disproportionate — too large or too small in comparison with something else
• disprove — to show that something is false
• dispute — a disagreement, especially one carried to a court or tribunal
• disqualify — to declare someone ineligible to hold a post or contest
• disquiet — a feeling of anxiety or unease about something
• disregard — to pay no attention to a rule, warning or opinion
• disrepute — loss of the good opinion that others once had
• disrupt — to interrupt the normal course of an activity
• disruption — a serious interruption to normal working
• dissect — to examine something in minute detail
• disseminate — to spread information widely
• dissension — disagreement that leads to quarrelling within a group
• dissent — disagreement with an official or majority view
• dissident — a person who openly opposes the official line of a party or state
• dissipate — to waste or scatter something gradually until nothing is left
• dissociate — to separate oneself from a person, group or statement
• dissolution — the formal ending of an assembly, body or partnership
• dissolve — to formally bring an assembly or organisation to an end
• dissuade — to persuade someone not to do something
• distinct — clearly separate and different from others
• distinction — a clear difference between two things; also an honour awarded for merit
• distort — to twist facts so that they give a false impression
• distortion — a twisting of facts, or of a market, away from its true state
• distraught — extremely upset and unable to think clearly
• distress — severe suffering caused by hardship or want
• distribute — to give out among a number of recipients
• diverge — to move or develop in different directions
• divergent — differing markedly from one another
• diverse — showing a great deal of variety
• diversify — to expand into a wider range of activities or crops
• diversion — the turning of money or traffic away from its intended course
• divert — to turn something away from its intended course or purpose
• divest — to sell off a holding, or to strip someone of a power
• dividend — a share of profit paid to shareholders; a benefit that follows an investment
• divisive — causing disagreement or hostility between groups
• divulge — to make a secret known
• docile — quiet and easy to control
• doctrine — a set of principles held by a state, court or organisation
• document — to record something in writing with supporting evidence
• dogged — showing stubborn determination despite difficulty
• dogmatic — insisting on one’s beliefs as unquestionably true
• dole — money handed out by the state, especially to the unemployed
• domain — an area of activity or authority under someone’s control
• domicile — the place where a person is legally treated as permanently resident
• dominant — most important or most powerful in a situation
• dominate — to have controlling influence over something
• donate — to give money or goods to a cause without payment
• donor — a person or agency that gives funds or aid
• dormant — temporarily inactive but able to become active again
• dossier — a file of collected documents about a person or a case
• downtrodden — oppressed and badly treated by those in power
• downturn — a decline in economic activity
• draconian — excessively harsh and severe
• draft — a preliminary version of a document issued for comment
• drain — a steady loss of resources, money or skilled people
• drastic — severe and far-reaching in its effect
• dread — great fear of something that may happen
• drought — a long period with far too little rain
• drudgery — hard, dull work that brings no satisfaction
• dubious — doubtful, and probably neither honest nor reliable
• duly — in the correct manner and as required by rule
• duplicity — deceit shown by saying one thing and doing another
• durable — lasting a long time without weakening
• duress — threat or force used to make someone act against their will
• dwell — to think or speak about something at length
• dwindle — to become steadily smaller in number or amount
• dynamic — marked by constant change, activity and energy
• dynasty — a succession of rulers or leaders drawn from one family
• dysfunctional — not working properly in the way it is meant to