112 words starting with D

• dabble verb

  to take part in an activity casually, without serious effort

  My uncle dabbles in painting on weekends but has never taken a class.

  Like tinker, play at

• daunting adjective

  seeming so hard or large that it makes you lose confidence

  Climbing the steep trail to the monastery looked daunting at first.

  Like intimidating, formidable, discouraging

• dearth noun

  a lack of something; too small an amount

  There is a dearth of clean drinking water in some mountain villages.

  Like shortage, scarcity, lack

• debacle noun

  a sudden, complete, and often embarrassing failure

  The school play became a debacle when the stage lights and microphones failed.

  Like fiasco, disaster, failure

• debilitate verb

  to make someone or something very weak

  The long fever debilitated her, so she rested for two weeks.

  Like weaken, enfeeble, exhaust

• debunk verb

  to show that a popular idea or belief is false

  The science teacher debunked the myth that lightning never strikes the same place twice.

  Like disprove, expose, refute

• decadence noun

  a decline in moral or cultural standards, often marked by too much luxury and pleasure

  Historians say the empire’s decadence weakened it long before it fell.

  Like decline, self-indulgence, degeneration

• decipher verb

  to work out the meaning of something hard to read or understand

  It took the students an hour to decipher the old handwritten letter.

  Like decode, interpret, make out

• decree noun

  an official order given by a ruler or government

  The king issued a decree that every village must build a school.

  Like edict, order, ruling

• decry verb

  to criticize something strongly in public

  Scientists decried the plan to cut down the old forest.

  Like condemn, denounce, criticize

• deduce verb

  to reach a conclusion by reasoning from the facts you know

  From the wet ground, she deduced that it had rained during the night.

  Like infer, conclude, reason

• deem verb

  to judge or consider something in a particular way

  The bridge was deemed unsafe after the inspectors found cracks.

  Like consider, judge, regard

• default noun

  what happens or is chosen automatically when no other choice is made

  The default language on the new phone was English, but I changed it to Nepali.

  Like preset, standard

• defer verb

  to put off something until later; to accept another person’s opinion out of respect

  We deferred the picnic until next week because of the rain.

  Like postpone, delay, put off

• deference noun

  polite respect shown by accepting someone else’s wishes or judgment

  Out of deference to their grandmother, the children spoke quietly at the temple.

  Like respect, regard, courtesy

• deferential adjective

  showing polite respect, often by giving way to another’s wishes

  The young players were deferential toward their experienced coach.

  Like respectful, courteous, submissive

• defiance noun

  open refusal to obey a person or rule

  In defiance of the rules, the boy kept using his phone in class.

  Like resistance, disobedience, rebellion

• deficient adjective

  lacking something needed, or not having enough of it

  A diet deficient in iron can make people feel tired.

  Like lacking, insufficient, inadequate

• definitive adjective

  final and settling a question completely; the most complete and trusted of its kind

  The test gave a definitive answer about which metal was in the sample.

  Like conclusive, final, authoritative

• deft adjective

  quick, skillful, and neat in movement

  With a few deft strokes, the artist drew a perfect circle.

  Like nimble, skillful, adroit

• defunct adjective

  no longer existing, working, or in use

  The defunct factory has been turned into a community library.

  Like extinct, closed, inoperative

• deity noun

  a god or goddess

  Durga is the main deity honored during Dashain.

  Like god, goddess, divinity

• dejected adjective

  sad and without hope, usually after a disappointment

  The team looked dejected after losing the final by one goal.

  Like downcast, dispirited, discouraged

• delegate verb

  to give part of your work or authority to someone else

  The captain delegated the job of carrying the water bottles to two players.

  Like assign, entrust, hand over

• deleterious adjective

  causing harm or damage, often in a gradual way

  Smoke from burning plastic has deleterious effects on the lungs.

  Like harmful, damaging, detrimental

• deliberate adjective

  done on purpose after careful thought; slow and careful

  Breaking the window was not an accident but a deliberate act.

  Like intentional, planned, calculated

• delineate verb

  to describe or mark something exactly and in detail

  The map clearly delineates the border of the national park.

  Like outline, define, mark out

• delude verb

  to make someone believe something false

  Don’t delude yourself into thinking you can pass without studying.

  Like deceive, fool, mislead

• deluge noun

  a very heavy flood or fall of rain; a huge number of things arriving at once

  The monsoon deluge turned the village paths into streams.

  Like flood, downpour, torrent

• delusion noun

  a false belief that someone holds firmly despite clear evidence

  He was under the delusion that he could finish the project in one night.

  Like illusion, misconception, false belief

• demean verb

  to make someone seem less worthy of respect

  A good teacher never demeans students for asking questions.

  Like belittle, degrade, humiliate

• demise noun

  the end of something that existed; a person’s death

  The arrival of email led to the demise of the telegram.

  Like end, downfall, death

• denounce verb

  to say publicly and strongly that someone or something is wrong

  The scientists denounced the fake report as dangerous.

  Like condemn, criticize, decry

• deplete verb

  to use up much of a supply so that little is left

  Cutting too many trees depletes the forest faster than it can grow back.

  Like exhaust, drain, use up

• deplore verb

  to feel and express strong disapproval of something

  Many people deplore the litter left on the trekking trails.

  Like condemn, lament, disapprove

• deploy verb

  to move people or equipment into position for use

  Rescue teams were deployed to the villages after the landslide.

  Like position, station, dispatch

• deride verb

  to mock someone or something as foolish or worthless

  Some critics derided the inventor’s first flying machine.

  Like mock, ridicule, scorn

• derision noun

  scornful laughter or mocking words

  The idea that the Earth moves around the Sun was once met with derision.

  Like mockery, ridicule, scorn

• derogatory adjective

  showing a low opinion of someone in an insulting way

  Using derogatory names for classmates is never acceptable.

  Like insulting, disparaging, offensive

• desist verb

  to stop doing something, especially when asked or ordered

  The guard asked the tourists to desist from touching the old carvings.

  Like stop, cease, refrain

• desolate adjective

  empty of people and life, and gloomy

  The desolate plateau had no trees, houses, or animals in sight.

  Like bleak, barren, deserted

• despair noun

  the complete loss of hope

  After the fifth failed attempt, the inventor felt a moment of despair.

  Like hopelessness, despondency, desolation

• despondent adjective

  low in spirits and without hope, usually for some time

  She grew despondent when her plants kept dying, but then she found the cause.

  Like dejected, hopeless, downhearted

• destitute adjective

  so poor that you lack even food and shelter

  The charity gives meals to destitute families during the winter.

  Like penniless, impoverished, poverty-stricken

• deter verb

  to stop someone from acting by making them doubtful or afraid

  The tall fence deters monkeys from entering the garden.

  Like discourage, dissuade, put off

• deteriorate verb

  to become gradually worse

  Without repairs, the old wooden bridge deteriorated year by year.

  Like worsen, decline, decay

• detest verb

  to dislike something or someone very strongly

  My little brother detests bitter gourd and always pushes it aside.

  Like hate, loathe, despise

• detract verb

  to make something seem less good or valuable

  One spelling mistake did not detract from her excellent essay.

  Like diminish, lessen, take away

• detriment noun

  harm or damage caused to something

  He played video games all night, to the detriment of his schoolwork.

  Like harm, damage, disadvantage

• detrimental adjective

  causing harm or damage

  Too much screen time can be detrimental to your sleep.

  Like harmful, damaging, deleterious

• deviate verb

  to move away from the usual or planned path

  The bus deviated from its route because of a road closure.

  Like diverge, stray, depart

• devious adjective

  dishonest and clever in a hidden way

  The player used a devious trick to distract the goalkeeper.

  Like sly, sneaky, deceitful

• devise verb

  to plan or invent something new by careful thinking

  The students devised a simple filter to clean muddy water.

  Like invent, design, create

• devoid adjective

  completely without something

  The surface of the Moon is devoid of liquid water.

  Like lacking, without, empty

• devout adjective

  deeply devoted to a religion and its practices

  My devout grandmother visits the temple every morning before sunrise.

  Like pious, religious, faithful

• dexterity noun

  skill and speed in using the hands or body

  Weaving a carpet by hand takes great dexterity.

  Like deftness, nimbleness, skill

• dichotomy noun

  a sharp division between two opposite or very different things

  The novel explores the dichotomy between city life and village life.

  Like division, split, contrast

• didactic adjective

  meant to teach a lesson, often in an obvious or preachy way

  The story was so didactic that it felt like a lecture.

  Like instructive, educational, preachy

• diffuse verb

  to spread out widely through a space

  The smell of incense diffused through the whole room.

  Like spread, scatter, disperse

• digress verb

  to move away from the main subject while speaking or writing

  Our teacher often digresses to tell funny stories about her travels.

  Like stray, wander, deviate

• dilapidated adjective

  old and falling to pieces because of neglect

  They restored the dilapidated rest house beside the trail.

  Like ramshackle, run-down, crumbling

• diligence noun

  careful and steady effort in your work

  Her diligence in practicing every day made her the best violinist in school.

  Like industriousness, persistence, assiduousness

• diligent adjective

  working hard with steady, careful attention

  The diligent student checked every answer twice before handing in the test.

  Like hardworking, industrious, conscientious

• diminish verb

  to become or make smaller or less

  The noise diminished as the bus drove farther away.

  Like decrease, lessen, reduce

• diminutive adjective

  unusually small

  The diminutive puppy fit easily in the palm of my hand.

  Like tiny, small, minute

• discern verb

  to notice or understand something that is not obvious

  In the fog, we could barely discern the outline of the stupa.

  Like perceive, detect, make out

• discerning adjective

  good at judging quality or noticing fine differences

  A discerning reader can tell when a writer has not checked the facts.

  Like perceptive, astute, judicious

• disclose verb

  to make secret or private information known

  The company would not disclose how much the new bridge had cost.

  Like reveal, divulge, make known

• discord noun

  disagreement and conflict between people

  The argument over the trip caused discord among the club members.

  Like conflict, strife, disagreement

• discordant adjective

  not in harmony; sounding harsh together, or not agreeing

  The untuned guitar made a discordant sound.

  Like jarring, clashing, harsh

• discredit verb

  to make people stop trusting or believing someone or something

  New evidence discredited the old theory about the dinosaurs.

  Like undermine, debunk, invalidate

• discreet adjective

  careful not to attract attention or reveal private things

  She was discreet and did not tell anyone about her friend’s surprise party.

  Like tactful, circumspect, prudent

• discrepancy noun

  a difference between things that should match

  The teacher noticed a discrepancy between the two lab reports.

  Like difference, inconsistency, mismatch

• discretion noun

  the freedom to decide what to do; care in not revealing private things

  The coach used his discretion to choose who would play first.

  Like judgment, choice, tact

• discriminate verb

  to treat a person or group unfairly because of who they are; to notice a difference

  It is wrong to discriminate against anyone because of their caste.

  Like be biased, distinguish, differentiate

• disdain noun

  a feeling that someone or something is not worthy of respect

  The famous chef looked at the burnt toast with disdain.

  Like scorn, contempt, disrespect

• disgruntled adjective

  annoyed and dissatisfied, often over a period of time

  Disgruntled passengers complained when the flight was delayed again.

  Like dissatisfied, discontented, annoyed

• disheartened adjective

  having lost confidence or hope

  The young climbers were disheartened by the heavy snow but kept going.

  Like discouraged, dispirited, downcast

• disillusion verb

  to show someone that something they believed in is not as good as they thought

  The trip disillusioned him about the city he had dreamed of for years.

  Like disenchant, disappoint

• disinterested adjective

  not influenced by personal gain; fair and neutral

  A disinterested judge chose the winner of the science fair.

  Like impartial, neutral, unbiased

• dismal adjective

  gloomy and depressing; very poor in quality

  The dismal weather kept everyone indoors all weekend.

  Like gloomy, dreary, bleak

• dismay noun

  a sudden feeling of worry and disappointment

  To our dismay, the museum was closed for repairs.

  Like alarm, distress, disappointment

• disparage verb

  to speak about someone or something as if they had little worth

  He disparaged his sister’s painting, but everyone else loved it.

  Like belittle, criticize, run down

• disparate adjective

  clearly different in kind and not easily compared

  The book brings together disparate ideas from art, music, and physics.

  Like different, dissimilar, distinct

• disparity noun

  a large and often unfair difference between things

  There is a disparity in internet access between cities and villages.

  Like gap, inequality, difference

• dispassionate adjective

  calm, fair, and not influenced by strong feelings

  A scientist should give a dispassionate account of the results.

  Like impartial, objective, detached

• dispel verb

  to make a doubt, fear, or false idea go away

  The doctor’s calm words dispelled my fears about the injection.

  Like banish, remove, drive away

• disperse verb

  to scatter or go in different directions

  The crowd dispersed quickly when the rain started.

  Like scatter, spread, disband

• disposition noun

  a person’s usual mood and way of behaving

  Our dog has a gentle disposition and loves children.

  Like temperament, nature, character

• disprove verb

  to show that something is false

  Galileo’s experiment disproved the idea that heavy objects fall faster.

  Like refute, debunk, invalidate

• disputable adjective

  open to question or argument

  Whether this was the best plan is disputable.

  Like debatable, questionable, arguable

• disrepute noun

  the state of having a bad reputation

  The cheating scandal brought the tournament into disrepute.

  Like disgrace, dishonor, shame

• disseminate verb

  to spread information widely to many people

  The health workers disseminated information about clean water to every village.

  Like spread, distribute, circulate

• dissent noun

  disagreement with an official or widely held view

  There was some dissent in the class about where to go on the field trip.

  Like disagreement, objection, protest

• dissipate verb

  to fade away or scatter until gone; to waste

  The morning fog dissipated once the sun rose over the hills.

  Like disperse, vanish, scatter

• dissonance noun

  a harsh combination of sounds; a lack of agreement

  The dissonance of honking horns filled the busy street.

  Like discord, clash, disharmony

• dissuade verb

  to persuade someone not to do something

  Her parents dissuaded her from trekking alone in winter.

  Like discourage, deter, talk out of

• distort verb

  to change the shape, sound, or meaning of something so it is no longer true or accurate

  The curved mirror distorted our faces and made us laugh.

  Like twist, warp, misrepresent

• distraught adjective

  extremely upset and anxious, unable to think clearly

  The boy was distraught when he couldn’t find his pet rabbit.

  Like frantic, distressed, upset

• diverge verb

  to separate and go in different directions

  The two paths diverge just after the old pipal tree.

  Like separate, branch off, split

• divert verb

  to change the direction or purpose of something; to draw attention away

  Engineers diverted the river to build the new dam.

  Like redirect, reroute, distract

• divulge verb

  to tell something that was meant to be kept secret

  The magician refused to divulge how his trick worked.

  Like reveal, disclose, let slip

• docile adjective

  quiet and easy to control or teach

  The docile yak let the children stroke its long hair.

  Like tame, gentle, obedient

• doctrine noun

  a set of beliefs taught and accepted by a group

  Each school of philosophy had its own doctrine about knowledge.

  Like teaching, creed, principle

• dogma noun

  a belief or set of beliefs that people are expected to accept without question

  Good science questions every idea instead of treating it as dogma.

  Like creed, doctrine, tenet

• dogmatic adjective

  insisting that your beliefs are right and refusing to consider other views

  He was so dogmatic that he would not even look at the new evidence.

  Like opinionated, inflexible, rigid

• dormant adjective

  alive or able to act but not active for now

  The seeds stay dormant in the dry soil until the monsoon comes.

  Like inactive, asleep, latent

• dubious adjective

  probably not true, honest, or good; unsure about something

  The website made dubious claims about a pill that makes you taller.

  Like doubtful, questionable, suspicious

• duplicity noun

  dishonest behavior that tricks people, often by acting one way and thinking another

  The spy’s duplicity was discovered when his letters were found.

  Like deceit, dishonesty, double-dealing

• durable adjective

  able to last a long time without breaking or wearing out

  These durable boots lasted through three treks in the Himalaya.

  Like long-lasting, sturdy, tough

• duress noun

  threats or force used to make someone do something

  The court ruled that the signature was given under duress.

  Like coercion, pressure, force

• dwindle verb

  to become gradually smaller in number or amount

  The water in the well dwindled during the dry season.

  Like shrink, decrease, diminish