D

dab touch lightly

dais platform

dally procrastinate, linger

dank cold and damp

dauntless courageous

de facto actual, in effect

de jure legally

de rigueur very formal, compulsory

deadpan expressionless

dearth scarcity

debacle a rout, defeat

debase degrade

debauch corrupt

debauchery indulgence

debilitate weaken

debonair sophisticated, affable

debrief interrogate, inform

debunk refute, expose

debutante a girl debuting into society

decadence decay (e.g. moral or cultural)

decant pour

decapitate kill by beheading

decathlon athletic contest

deceive trick

deciduous shedding leaves

decimate destroy

decipher decode

decline decrease in number

decommission take a ship out of service

decorous seemly, dignified

decorum protocol, etiquette

decree official order

decrepitude enfeeblement

decry castigate

deduce conclude

deduct subtract

deem judge

deface mar, disfigure

defamation (noun) slander

defame (verb) slander

defeatist one who is resigned to defeat

defer postpone

deference courteously yielding to another

deficit shortage

defile pollute, corrupt

definitive conclusive, final

deflect turn aside

deflower despoil

defraud swindle

defray pay

deft skillful

defunct extinct

degrade demean

dehydrate dry out

deign condescend

deity a god

delectable delicious

delegate authorize

delete remove

deleterious harmful

deliberate ponder

delineate draw a line around, describe

delinquent negligent, culpable

delirium mental confusion, ecstasy

delude deceive

deluge a flood

delve dig, explore (of ideas)

demagogue a politician who appeals to base instincts

demean degrade

demeanor behavior

demented deranged

demise death

demobilize disband

demography study of human populations

demoralize dishearten

demote lower in rank

demur take (mild) exception, balk

demure sedate, reserved

denigrate defame

denizen dweller

denomination class, sect

denote signify, stand for

denouement resolution

denounce condemn

denude strip bare

depart leave

depict portray

deplete exhaust

deplore condemn

deploy arrange forces

deportment behavior, posture

deposition testimony

depravity immorality, wickedness

deprecate belittle

depredation preying on, plunder

deprive take away

deracinate uproot

derelict negligent

deride ridicule

derisive mocking

derogatory degrading

derrick crane

desecrate profane, defile

desiccate dehydrate

designate appoint

desist stop

desolate forsaken

despicable contemptible

despise loathe

despondent depressed

despot tyrant

destitute poor

desuetude disuse

desultory without direction in life

detached emotionally removed

detain confine

détente truce

detention confinement

deter discourage, prevent

deterrent hindrance, disincentive

detract lessen, undermine

detractor one who criticizes

detrimental harmful

detritus debris

devastate lay waste

deviate turn away from

devise plan

devoid empty

devotee enthusiast, follower

devout pious

diabolical devilish

dialectic pertaining to debate

diaphanous sheer, translucent

diatribe long denunciation

dicey risky

dichotomy a division into two parts

dictate command

dictum saying

didactic instructional

diffident shy

digress ramble

dilapidated neglected

dilate enlarge

dilatory procrastinating

dilemma a difficult choice

dilettante amateur, dabbler

diligent hard-working

diminution reduction

diocese district

dire dreadful

dirigible airship, blimp

disabuse correct

disaffect alienate

disarray disorder

disavow deny, disown

disband disperse

disburse pay out

discernible visible

discerning observant

disclaim renounce

disconcert confuse

disconsolate inconsolable

discord lack of harmony

discourse conversation

discreet prudent

discrepancy difference, disagreement

discrete separate

discretion prudence, the ability to make well-reasoned decisions

discriminating able to see differences

discursive rambling

disdain contempt

disengage release, detach

disfigure mar, ruin

disgruntled disappointed

dishevel muss

disinclination unwillingness

disingenuous deceptive, insincere

disinter unearth

disinterested impartial

disjointed disconnected, incoherent

dismal gloomy

dismantle take apart

dismay dread

disparage belittle

disparate various

disparity difference, inequality

dispassionate impartial

dispatch send

dispel cause to banish

disperse scatter

dispirit discourage

disposition attitude, temper

dispossess take away possessions

disputatious fond of arguing

dispute debate

disquietude anxiety

disquisition elaborate treatise

disrepute disgrace

dissemble pretend, hide true beliefs

disseminate distribute

dissent disagree with the majority

dissertation lecture

dissidence disagreement

dissipate scatter, squander

dissolute profligate, immoral

dissolution disintegration

dissonance discord

dissuade deter

distend swell

distortion misinterpret, lie

distract divert

distrait preoccupied, absent-minded

distraught distressed

distrust suspect

dither move without purpose

diurnal daily

diva prima donna

diverge branch off

diverse varying

diversion pastime

diversity variety

divest strip, deprive

dividend distributed profits

divine foretell

divisive causing conflict

divulge disclose

docile domesticated, trained

dock curtail

doctrinaire dogmatic

document verify

dodder tremble

dogged persistent

doggerel poor verse opinion

dolce sweetly and gently

doldrums dullness

doleful sorrowful

dolorous gloomy

domicile home

dominion area of authority

don assume, put on

donor contributor

dormant asleep

dossier file

dotage senility

doting attending

double-entendre having two meanings one of which is sexually suggestive

doughty resolute, unafraid

dour sullen

dowager widow

doyen dean of a group

draconian harsh

dregs residue, riffraff

drivel inane speech

droll amusing

drone speak in a monotonic voice

dubious doubtful

ductile stretchable

dudgeon resentment, indignant humor

duenna governess

duet twosome

dulcet melodious

dupe one who is easily trick, victim

duplicity deceit, treachery

duress coercion

dynamic energetic