Study Material for TOEFL Preparation | Alphabet D

dart - quick movement; missile in darts
daunt - intimidate, make fearful
dawdler - person who is slow; waste of time
dearth - shortage
debacle - a breakup, overthrow, sudden disaster
decorous - polite, decent
decorum - propriety, properness
decree - order given by authority
decry - disapprove of
defer - postpone; give way (to show respect)
deference - respect
deferential - showing respect
defiance - open disobedience or resistance
deflect - turn aside
defy - resist openly
degrade - reduce in rank or status
delineate - to portray, depict, sketch out
deluge - great flood, heavy rush of water
demagogue - person appealing not to reasons
demur - to hesitate, raise objections
denigrate - blacken, belittle, sully, defame
denouement - an outcome or solution; the unraveling of a plot
denounce- give information against
dent - hollow, depression mad by a blow
deplete - use until none remains
deposition - dethronement, depositing
deprave - make morally bad; corrupt
deprecate - protest against, express disapproval of
dereliction - deserting and leaving to fall into ruins
derision - ridicule, mockery, deriding
derivative - derived, not original or primitive
derivative - unoriginal, obtained from another source
derogatory- insulting; tending to damage
descry - catch sight of, see smth in the distance
desiccant- substance used to absorb moisture
desiccate - to dry up, dehydrate
desuetude - cessation of use; disuse
desultory - aimless, haphazard, digressing at random
detach - separate
deter - discourage, hinder
detraction - slandering, verbal attack, aspersion
detumescence - diminishing or lessening of swelling
deviance - being different in moral standards (from normal)
dexterity - skill (esp. in handling)
dexterous - clever, skillful with hands
diaphanous - transparent, gauzy
diatribe - bitter and violent attack in words
dictate - order
diffidence - shyness
diffident - lacking in self-confidence
dilate - speak comprehensively, become wider, large
dilatory - causing delay, procrastinating
disabuse - to undeceive, correct a false impression
disallow - refuse to allow or accept as a correct
discern - see with an effort but clearly
discomfit - confuse, embarrass
discomfit - to defeat, put down
disconcert - upset the self-possession of
discountenance- refuse to approve of
discourse- speech, lecture,
discredit - refuse to believe
disdain - look on with contempt
disencumber - free from encumbrance
disheveled - untidy
disingenuous - sophisticated, artful, trying to deceive, cunning
disinter - dig up from the earth
dislodge - move, force from the place occupied
dismal - sad, gloomy, miserable
disparate - essentially different
dispassionate - free from passion
dissemble - speak or behave so as to hide smth (in mind)
disseminate- distribute (esp. ideas)
dissent - have a different opinion, refuse to assent
dissipation - going away, dispersing
dissolution - disintegration, looseness in morals
distinct - easily heard, seen, understood, clearly marked
distorted - pulled out of the usual shape, give a false account of
distraught - distracted, violently upset in mind
distress - great pain; cause discomfort
divergence- getting farther apart from a point
diverse - of different kinds
divestiture - taking off, getting rid of, giving up
divulge - make known smth secret
doggerel - trivial, poorly constructed verse
dogmatic - positive, certain, arbitrary, without room for discussion
dogmatism - being dogmatic
dolt - stupid fellow
dormant - in a state of inactivity but awaiting development
dote - show much fondness, center one's attention
drone - male bee, person who isn't self-employed
drowsiness - feeling sleepy, half asleep
dubious- feeling doubt
dud - no use person, smth that fails
dulcet - melodious, harmonious
dupe- cheat, make a fool of
duplicity - deliberate deception
duress - threats to compel smb
dwarf - person or smb much below the usual size
dynamo - a generator, something that produces electric current