demise
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C1 noun /dɪˈmaɪz/

demise

Tod / Ende
Meaning
Death or end of something, especially the end of an institution or system.
Example
The sudden demise of the company shocked investors.
Der plötzliche Untergang des Unternehmens schockierte die Investoren.
C1 adjective /ˈdæʃ.ɪŋ/

Dashing

elegant; attraktiv; mutig;
Meaning
stylish and confident; lively and energetic; attractive and charming
Example
He looked dashing in his new suit.
Er sah in seinem neuen Anzug eleganter aus.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈreɪ/

disarray

Unordnung
Meaning
A state of disorganization or untidiness; confusion or disorder.
Example
His desk was in complete disarray.
Sein Schreibtisch war in völliger Unordnung.
C1 adjective /dɪˈpreɪvd/

depraved

verderbt
Meaning
morally corrupt or wicked
Example
The film depicts the life of a depraved criminal.
Der Film beschreibt das Leben eines verderbten Kriminellen.
C1 adjective ˈdɪs.pər.ət

disparate

unterschiedlich
Meaning
containing elements very different from one another.
Example
Their opinions were disparate, leading to debates.
Ihre Meinungen waren disparat, was zu Debatten führte.
C1 adjective /dɪˈbeɪst/

debased

herabgesetzt
Meaning
having lost quality, value, or moral character
Example
The debased currency lost the trust of the people.
Die herabgesetzte Währung verlor das Vertrauen der Menschen.
C1 noun /deɪˈbɑː.kəl/

debacle

Debakel
Meaning
A sudden and ignominious failure; a fiasco.
Example
The company's poor management led to a financial debacle.
Das schlechte Management des Unternehmens führte zu einem finanziellen Debakel.
C1 noun ˈdɪskɔrd

discord

Uneinigkeit
Meaning
Disagreement or conflict between people or ideas.
Example
Discord among people disrupts societal stability.
Uneinigkeit unter Menschen stört die gesellschaftliche Stabilität.
C1 noun /ˈdjuːplɛks/

duplex

Doppelhaushälfte
Meaning
A house or apartment divided into two separate residences.
Example
They live in a duplex near the city center.
Sie wohnen in einem Doppelhaus in der Nähe des Stadtzentrums.
C1 verb /dɪsˈmæntəl/

dismantle

abreißen
Meaning
to take apart; to remove or destroy the parts of
Example
Workers will dismantle the old bridge next month.
Arbeiter werden die alte Brücke nächsten Monat abbauen.
C1 adjective ˌdet.rɪˈmen.təl

detrimental

schädlich
Meaning
Tending to cause harm; damaging or harmful.
Example
Pollution has detrimental effects on fertility.
Verschmutzung hat schädliche Auswirkungen auf die Fruchtbarkeit.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfɪʃənt/

Deficient

mangelhaft
Meaning
not having enough of a specified quality or ingredient; lacking or inadequate
Example
His diet was deficient in essential vitamins.
Seine Ernährung war mangelhaft an wichtigen Vitaminen.
C1 adjective draʊt rɪˈzɪs.tənt

drought-resistant

trockenresistent
Meaning
Able to survive and grow despite limited water availability or drought conditions.
Example
Drought-resistant crops can survive in arid conditions.
Trockenresistente Pflanzen können in trockenen Bedingungen überleben.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪktəˈtɔːriəl/

dictatorial

diktatorisch
Meaning
Having or showing a tendency to tell people what to do in an autocratic way.
Example
His dictatorial style made him unpopular among colleagues.
Sein diktatorischer Stil machte ihn unter den Kollegen unbeliebt.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskrɪmɪˌneɪtɪŋ/

discriminating

wählerisch
Meaning
Having refined taste or good judgment; able to recognize subtle differences.
Example
She is known for her discriminating taste in art.
Sie ist bekannt für ihren wählerischen Geschmack in der Kunst.
C1 verb /dɪˈzɪst/

desist

absehen
Meaning
to stop doing something, especially an action considered wrong or undesirable
Example
The judge ordered the company to desist from unfair practices.
Der Richter befahl dem Unternehmen, von unfairen Praktiken abzusehen.
C1 noun /ˌdev.əˈtiː/

Devotee

Anhänger; Verehrer
Meaning
a person who is very interested in and enthusiastic about someone or something
Example
As a devotee of classical music, she attended every concert in the city.
Als Anhängerin der klassischen Musik besuchte sie jedes Konzert in der Stadt.
C1 noun /dɪˈfɛkʃən/

defection

Defektion
Meaning
The act of abandoning one’s country, cause, or group in favor of another.
Example
The politician’s defection shocked his supporters.
Die Defektion des Politikers schockierte seine Anhänger.
C1 noun /ˈdræm.ə.tɪst/

dramatist

Dramatiker
Meaning
a person who writes plays
Example
Shakespeare is one of the greatest dramatists in history.
Shakespeare ist einer der größten Dramatiker der Geschichte.
C1 noun /dɪˈkɔː.rəm/

Decorum

Anstand; Höflichkeit; Würde
Meaning
behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety; dignified and appropriate conduct
Example
The diplomat maintained perfect decorum throughout the heated negotiations.
Der Diplomat bewahrte während der hitzigen Verhandlungen perfekten Anstand.
C1 noun /ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk ˈmaɪl.stəʊn/

diplomatic milestone

diplomatischer Meilenstein
Meaning
A significant achievement or important event in diplomatic relations.
Example
Hosting the summit was a diplomatic milestone.
Die Ausrichtung des Gipfels war ein diplomatischer Meilenstein.
C1 noun /dɪsˈlɛksiə/

dyslexia

Dyslexie
Meaning
A learning disorder characterized by difficulty reading due to problems identifying speech sounds and decoding words.
Example
The teacher used special methods to help the student with dyslexia.
Der Lehrer verwendete spezielle Methoden, um dem Schüler mit Dyslexie zu helfen.
C1 verb /dɪsˈpruːv/

disprove

widerlegen
Meaning
to show that something is false or wrong
Example
The scientist worked hard to disprove the old theory.
Der Wissenschaftler arbeitete hart daran, die alte Theorie zu widerlegen.
C1 noun /dɪsˈɪntrəst/

disinterest

Desinteresse
Meaning
lack of interest or concern
Example
His disinterest in the project was obvious.
Sein Desinteresse an dem Projekt war offensichtlich.
C1 verb /dɪsˈbænd/

disband

auflösen
Meaning
to break up and stop functioning as a group or organization
Example
The club decided to disband after twenty years of activity.
Der Club beschloss, sich nach zwanzig Jahren Aktivität aufzulösen.
C1 noun delˈteɪɪk ˈlændskeɪp

deltaic landscape

deltaähnliche Landschaft
Meaning
A geographical area formed by sediment deposits at the mouth of a river, creating a triangular land formation.
Example
Bangladesh has a unique deltaic landscape.
Bangladesch hat eine einzigartige deltaähnliche Landschaft.
C1 verb /dɪˈplɔːr/

deplore

deplorieren
Meaning
to feel or express strong disapproval of something; to regret deeply
Example
Many people deplore the violence shown on television.
Viele Menschen deplorieren die auf dem Fernsehen gezeigte Gewalt.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪˌbreɪk/

daybreak

Morgendämmerung
Meaning
The time in the morning when daylight first appears; dawn.
Example
They set out on their journey at daybreak.
Sie brachen bei Morgengrauen zu ihrer Reise auf.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊri/

dowry

Morgengabe
Meaning
Property or money brought by a bride to her husband at marriage.
Example
The dowry tradition is still followed in some cultures.
Die Tradition der Morgengabe wird in einigen Kulturen immer noch befolgt.
C1 noun /ˈdɛdlɒk/

deadlock

Stall
Meaning
a situation in which progress is impossible because of disagreement
Example
Negotiations reached a deadlock after neither side agreed to compromise.
Die Verhandlungen erreichten einen Stall, nachdem keine der Parteien einem Kompromiss zustimmte.
C1 adjective /ˈdrɪəri/

dreary

trüb / düster
Meaning
dull, bleak, and lifeless; depressing
Example
The long, dreary winter made everyone feel gloomy.
Der lange, düstere Winter machte alle traurig.
C1 noun /dɪˈmiːnər/

demeanor

Verhalten
Meaning
a person's outward behavior or appearance
Example
Her calm demeanor impressed everyone at the meeting.
Ihr ruhiges Verhalten beeindruckte alle bei dem Treffen.
C1 verb /dɪsˈɑːrm/

disarm

entwaffnen
Meaning
to take weapons away from someone; to make someone feel less hostile
Example
The soldiers were ordered to disarm the rebels.
Den Soldaten wurde befohlen, die Rebellen zu entwaffnen.
C1 verb /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrt/

disconcert

verunsichern
Meaning
To unsettle, confuse, or disturb the composure of someone.
Example
The sudden change of plans disconcerted the team.
Die plötzliche Änderung der Pläne hat das Team verunsichert.
C1 noun /ˌdep.rɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

deprivation

Entbehrung, Mangel, Mangelerscheinung
Meaning
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
Example
Sleep deprivation affects cognitive function.
Schlafentzug beeinflusst die kognitive Funktion.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈbiːdiəns/

disobedience

Ungehorsam
Meaning
failure or refusal to obey rules, laws, or authority
Example
The child's disobedience worried his parents.
Der Ungehorsam des Kindes besorgte seine Eltern.
C1 adjective /ˈdek.stər.əs/

dexterous

geschickt
Meaning
Showing or having skill, especially with the hands; mentally adroit and skillful.
Example
A dexterous programmer can write complex codes effortlessly.
Ein geschickter Programmierer kann komplexe Codes mühelos schreiben.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.ə.ti/

deity

Gottheit
Meaning
a god or goddess
Example
The temple is dedicated to a Hindu deity.
Der Tempel ist einer hinduistischen Gottheit gewidmet.
C1 noun /ˈdɑː.mə.saɪl/

domicile

Wohnsitz
Meaning
A person's legal residence or permanent home.
Example
He declared Canada as his legal domicile.
Er erklärte Kanada als seinen rechtlichen Wohnsitz.
C1 noun /ˌdez.ɪɡˈneɪ.ʃən/

Designation

Bezeichnung; Titel; Position; Status
Meaning
the action of choosing someone for a position; a name, title, or official status
Example
His designation as team leader came with additional responsibilities and authority.
Seine Bezeichnung als Teamleiter brachte zusätzliche Verantwortlichkeiten und Befugnisse mit sich.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈrɛpjətəbl̩/

disreputable

skandalös
Meaning
having a bad reputation; not considered respectable or trustworthy
Example
The journalist avoided staying in the disreputable part of town.
Der Journalist vermied es, im skandalösen Teil der Stadt zu bleiben.
C1 verb /ˌdiː.kəmˈprɛs/

decompress

entspannen
Meaning
To relax and recover from stress or pressure.
Example
Taking deep breaths helps to decompress after a stressful day.
Tiefes Atmen hilft, sich nach einem stressigen Tag zu entspannen.
C1 verb /ˈdæmpən/

dampen

befeuchten, dämpfen
Meaning
to make something slightly wet; to make something less strong, active, or intense
Example
The rain dampened the excitement of the outdoor concert.
Der Regen dampfte die Aufregung des Open-Air-Konzerts.
C1 noun /ˌdɪspəˈzɪʃən/

disposition

Disposition
Meaning
A person's usual attitude or temperament; arrangement or tendency.
Example
She has a cheerful disposition despite the difficulties.
Sie hat eine fröhliche Disposition trotz der Schwierigkeiten.
C1 adjective /drəˈkoʊniən/

draconian

drakonisch
Meaning
Extremely harsh and severe, especially laws or rules.
Example
The new regulations were criticized as draconian.
Die neuen Vorschriften wurden als drakonisch kritisiert.
C1 noun /ˈdɛspɒt/

despot

Despot
Meaning
a ruler with absolute power, often ruling in a cruel or oppressive way
Example
The despot ruled the nation with fear and violence.
Der Despot regierte die Nation mit Angst und Gewalt.
C1 noun /ˈdæɡ.ər/

Dagger

Dolch
Meaning
a short knife with a pointed blade used as a weapon
Example
The ancient warrior carried a silver dagger.
Der antike Krieger trug einen silbernen Dolch.
C1 adjective /dɪˈspɪkəbl/

despicable

verachtenswert
Meaning
Deserving hatred and contempt; vile or shameful.
Example
His despicable actions shocked the entire community.
Seine verachtenswerten Taten schockierten die ganze Gemeinschaft.
C1 verb /druːp/

droop

durchhängen
Meaning
to bend or hang downward; to become weak or tired
Example
The flowers began to droop in the heat.
Die Blumen begannen bei der Hitze durchzuhängen.
C1 noun, adjective /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/

derivative

abgeleitet
Meaning
Something that is based on another source; in math, a measure of how a function changes.
Example
The film was criticized for being too derivative of earlier works.
Der Film wurde kritisiert, weil er zu sehr von früheren Werken abgeleitet war.
C1 noun /ˈdɒɡmə/

dogma

Dogma
Meaning
A principle or set of principles laid down by an authority as incontrovertibly true.
Example
The religious leader strictly adhered to traditional dogma.
Der religiöse Führer hielt sich streng an das traditionelle Dogma.
C1 noun ˌdep.əˈzɪʃ.ən

deposition

Ablagerung, der Vorgang des Absetzens von etwas
Meaning
The action of depositing something; the laying down of matter by a natural process.
Example
River deposition leads to the formation of new landmasses.
Flussablagerungen führen zur Bildung neuer Landmassen.
C1 verb /dɪsˈfɪɡjər/

disfigure

entstellen
Meaning
to spoil or damage the appearance of something
Example
The fire disfigured the old building.
Das Feuer hat das alte Gebäude entstellt.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪnəˌmoʊ/

dynamo

Maschine, die Elektrizität erzeugt; eine Person mit großer Energie und Begeisterung
Meaning
A machine that generates electricity; a person with great energy and enthusiasm.
Example
She is the real dynamo behind the success of the company.
Sie ist die wahre Dynamo hinter dem Erfolg des Unternehmens.
C1 adjective /dɪˈɡreɪdɪd/

degraded

degradiert
Meaning
Reduced in quality, dignity, or condition.
Example
The villagers were forced to live in degraded conditions.
Die Dorfbewohner wurden gezwungen, in degradierten Bedingungen zu leben.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊn.pɔːr/

Downpour

starker Regen; plötzlicher Regenschauer
Meaning
a heavy fall of rain; a sudden heavy rainfall
Example
The sudden downpour caught everyone off guard and soaked the outdoor event.
Der plötzliche starke Regen überraschte alle und durchnässte die Veranstaltung im Freien.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.kɒmpəˈzɪʃən/

decomposition

Zersetzung
Meaning
the process of decaying or breaking down into simpler parts
Example
The decomposition of leaves enriches the soil.
Die Zersetzung von Blättern bereichert den Boden.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɛl/

dispel

vertreiben
Meaning
to make a doubt, feeling, or belief disappear
Example
The teacher's explanation dispelled the students' confusion.
Die Erklärung des Lehrers zerstreute die Verwirrung der Schüler.
C1 adjective /dɪˈvaʊt/

devout

fromm
Meaning
Deeply religious or sincere.
Example
He is a devout believer who prays every day.
Er ist ein frommer Gläubiger, der jeden Tag betet.
C1 noun ˈdaɪ.nə.sti

dynasty

Dynastie
Meaning
A line of hereditary rulers of a country; a succession of people from the same family who play a prominent role in business, politics, or another field.
Example
The Ming dynasty ruled China for centuries.
Die Ming-Dynastie regierte China über Jahrhunderte.
C1 noun /djuːˈɛt/

duet

Duett
Meaning
a musical performance by two singers or instrumentalists
Example
They sang a beautiful duet together on stage.
Sie sangen zusammen ein wunderschönes Duett auf der Bühne.
C1 noun /ˈded.lɑk/

Dead-lock

totpunkt; blockierung
Meaning
a situation in which no progress is possible; complete standstill
Example
The negotiations reached a deadlock when neither side would compromise.
Die Verhandlungen erreichten einen toten Punkt, als keine Seite Kompromisse eingehen wollte.
C1 adjective dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri

discriminatory

diskriminierend
Meaning
Making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things.
Example
Discriminatory policies triggered protests.
Diskriminierende Politiken lösten Proteste aus.
C1 noun /ˈdel.ɪ.kə.si/

Delicacy

Zartheit; eine ausgesuchte oder teure Speise;
Meaning
fineness of texture or structure; a choice or expensive food; sensitivity in handling
Example
The chef prepared a local delicacy that was famous throughout the region.
Der Koch bereitete eine lokale Delikatesse zu, die in der gesamten Region berühmt war.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfʌŋkt/

defunct

außer Betrieb, verfallen
Meaning
No longer existing, operating, or functioning.
Example
The company became defunct after the financial crisis.
Das Unternehmen wurde nach der Finanzkrise defekt.
C1 noun /ˈdɔːrˌkiːpər/

doorkeeper

Pförtner
Meaning
A person whose job is to guard or manage the entrance of a building or room.
Example
The doorkeeper checked everyone’s passes before they entered the hall.
Der Doorkeeper überprüfte die Pässe aller, bevor sie den Saal betraten.
C1 verb dɪˈsɜːn

discern

unterscheiden
Meaning
To perceive or recognize something; to distinguish with difficulty by sight or with the other senses.
Example
He could barely discern the distant figure in the fog.
Er konnte die entfernte Figur im Nebel kaum unterscheiden.
C1 verb /dɛlv/

delve

tief eingraben
Meaning
To investigate deeply; to dig into a subject or area.
Example
The researcher delved into ancient manuscripts to find clues.
Der Forscher grub tief in alten Manuskripten, um Hinweise zu finden.
C1 noun /ˈdrɪz.əl/

Drizzle

Nieselregen
Meaning
light rain falling in very fine drops; a very light rainfall
Example
The gentle drizzle continued throughout the morning, making everything misty.
Der sanfte Nieselregen setzte sich den ganzen Morgen fort und ließ alles neblig erscheinen.
C1 adjective /ˈdwɪndlɪŋ/

dwindling

schwinden
Meaning
Gradually reducing in number, size, or strength.
Example
The villagers relied on dwindling water supplies.
Die Dorfbewohner waren auf die schwinden Wasserreserven angewiesen.
C1 noun /dɪˈsiːt/

Deceit

Betrug; Täuschung; Lüge
Meaning
the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth
Example
His deceit was discovered when the truth about his qualifications came to light.
Sein Betrug wurde entdeckt, als die Wahrheit über seine Qualifikationen ans Licht kam.
C1 noun dɪˈpliː.ʃən

depletion

Verbrauch
Meaning
The gradual reduction or exhaustion of a resource or substance.
Example
Overuse of groundwater leads to depletion of water resources.
Übermäßiger Gebrauch von Grundwasser führt zu einer Depletion der Wasserressourcen.
C1 noun /ˈdɛsɪˌbɛl/

decibel

Dezibel
Meaning
a unit used to measure the intensity of sound
Example
The noise level in the factory exceeded 90 decibels.
Der Geräuschpegel in der Fabrik überschritt 90 Dezibel.
C1 adjective /ˈdjuːtɪfəl/

Dutiful

pflichtbewusst; respektvoll; gehorsam
Meaning
conscientiously fulfilling one's duty; obedient; respectful
Example
She is a dutiful daughter who always helps her parents.
Sie ist eine pflichtbewusste Tochter, die ihren Eltern immer hilft.
C1 noun /dɪˌpriː.ʃiˈeɪ.ʃən/

depreciation

Abwertung
Meaning
A reduction in the value of an asset with the passage of time, due to wear and tear.
Example
The car's depreciation rate is high after five years.
Die Abwertungsrate des Autos ist nach fünf Jahren hoch.
C1 noun /ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən/

demolition

Abriss
Meaning
the act or process of destroying a building or structure
Example
The demolition of the old factory took several weeks.
Der Abriss der alten Fabrik dauerte mehrere Wochen.
C1 verb /ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt/

denigrate

denigreren
Meaning
to criticize unfairly; to belittle or disparage someone or something
Example
He was quick to denigrate the achievements of his colleagues.
Er war schnell dabei, die Errungenschaften seiner Kollegen zu denigreren.
C1 noun dəˌmɛstɪˈkeɪʃən

domestication

Domestikation
Meaning
The process of taming an animal and keeping it as a pet or for farm produce.
Example
Domestication of animals has been crucial for human survival.
Die Domestikation von Tieren war entscheidend für das Überleben des Menschen.
C1 verb /diːˈkoʊd/

decode

dekodieren
Meaning
to convert a coded message into a readable form; to interpret meaning
Example
The software can decode the hidden message within seconds.
Die Software kann die versteckte Nachricht in wenigen Sekunden dekodieren.
C1 adjective /ˈdɒdʒi/

Dodgy

verdächtig; fragwürdig; unzuverlässig; riskant oder gefährlich
Meaning
suspicious; questionable; unreliable; risky or dangerous
Example
That deal sounds dodgy to me.
Dieser Deal klingt für mich verdächtig.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfɛnsəbəl/

defensible

verteidigbar / gerechtfertigt
Meaning
Capable of being protected against attack or criticism; justifiable.
Example
Her decision was legally defensible.
Ihre Entscheidung war rechtlich verteidigenswert.
C1 verb /dɪˈnəʊt/

denote

bedeuten
Meaning
To be a sign of; to indicate or mean something.
Example
A red flag denotes danger.
Eine rote Flagge deutet auf Gefahr hin.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈdʒɔɪntɪd/

disjointed

zerfahren
Meaning
Lacking order, coherence, or connection; disconnected.
Example
The movie felt disjointed and hard to follow.
Der Film fühlte sich zerfahren an und war schwer zu folgen.
C1 verb, noun /dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

discredit

diskreditieren
Meaning
To harm the reputation of someone or something; loss of respect or credibility.
Example
The scandal discredited the politician in the eyes of the public.
Der Skandal diskreditierte den Politiker in den Augen der Öffentlichkeit.
C1 noun /dɪˈfjuːʒən/

diffusion

Diffusion
Meaning
the spreading of something more widely or the movement of particles from high to low concentration
Example
The diffusion of information on social media is rapid.
Die Diffusion von Informationen in sozialen Medien ist schnell.
C1 verb /ˈdaʊn.pleɪ/

downplay

herunterspielen
Meaning
to make something seem less important than it really is
Example
The company tried to downplay the risks of the new product.
Das Unternehmen versuchte, die Risiken des neuen Produkts herunterzuspielen.
C1 noun dɪˈtɜː.mɪ.nənt

determinant

entscheidender Faktor
Meaning
A factor that decisively affects the nature or outcome of something.
Example
Education is a key determinant of success.
Bildung ist ein entscheidender Faktor für den Erfolg.
C1 verb /dɪˈkraɪ/

decry

verurteilen
Meaning
to publicly criticize or express strong disapproval of something
Example
Many activists decry the destruction of the rainforest.
Viele Aktivisten verurteilen die Zerstörung des Regenwaldes.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/

dialect

Dialekt
Meaning
A particular form of a language spoken in a specific region or by a specific group.
Example
He speaks a dialect of Bengali that is common in rural areas.
Er spricht einen Dialekt des Bengalischen, der in ländlichen Gebieten verbreitet ist.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

dahlie
Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
Sie pflanzte bunte Dahlien in ihrem Garten letzten Sommer.
C1 verb /deɪz/

daze

betäuben
Meaning
to stun or confuse someone temporarily with a shock or surprise
Example
The bright lights dazed the runners as they entered the stadium.
Die hellen Lichter betäubten die Läufer, als sie das Stadion betraten.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs/

disingenuous

heuchlerisch
Meaning
not candid or sincere; giving a false appearance of honesty or openness
Example
She gave a disingenuous excuse for missing the meeting.
Sie gab eine heuchlerische Ausrede, um das Treffen zu verpassen.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈsɪmɪlər/

dissimilar

ungleich
Meaning
Not alike; different.
Example
Though they are twins, their personalities are dissimilar.
Obwohl sie Zwillinge sind, sind ihre Persönlichkeiten ungleich.
C1 noun /ˈderˌdevəl/

daredevil

Waghalsiger
Meaning
A person who enjoys doing dangerous or risky things.
Example
The stunt was performed by a famous daredevil.
Der Stunt wurde von einem berühmten Waghalsigen durchgeführt.
C1 adjective /ˈdɔːr.mənt/

Dormant

inaktiv; schlafend; vorübergehend suspendiert; momentan nicht aktiv
Meaning
inactive; sleeping; temporarily suspended; not currently active
Example
The volcano has been dormant for over a century.
Der Vulkan war über ein Jahrhundert lang inaktiv.
C1 noun dɪˌtɪə.ri.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deterioration

Verschlechterung
Meaning
The process of becoming progressively worse; decline in quality, condition, or strength.
Example
Poor maintenance leads to material deterioration.
Schlechte Wartung führt zu Materialverschlechterung.
C1 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkəl/

diabolical

diabolisch
Meaning
Wicked, cruel, or outrageously bad; resembling the devil.
Example
The dictator’s diabolical rule brought misery to the nation.
Die diabolische Herrschaft des Diktators brachte Elend in das Land.
C1 adjective /dɪˈraɪsɪv/

derisive

spöttisch
Meaning
Expressing contempt or ridicule.
Example
She gave a derisive laugh at his attempt to sing.
Sie gab ein spöttisches Lachen über seinen Versuch zu singen.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsəˈlaʊ/

disallow

untersagen
Meaning
to refuse to allow or accept something
Example
The referee disallowed the goal for offside.
Der Schiedsrichter untersagte das Tor wegen Abseits.
C1 noun /ˈdɪs.ə.nəns/

dissonance

Dissonanz
Meaning
Disagreement, lack of harmony, conflict between ideas or beliefs.
Example
The cultural dissonance created misunderstandings.
Die kulturelle Dissonanz führte zu Missverständnissen.
C1 noun ˌdɪm.ɪˈnjuː.ʃən

diminution

Verringerung
Meaning
A reduction in the size, extent, or importance of something; decrease.
Example
There has been a diminution in air pollution.
Es gab eine Verringerung der Luftverschmutzung.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtæŋɡl/

disentangle

entwirren
Meaning
To free something or someone from a tangle or complication.
Example
She tried to disentangle her hair from the branches.
Sie versuchte, ihr Haar von den Zweigen zu entwirren.
C1 verb /diːˈfɒrɪst/

deforest

abholzen
Meaning
to clear an area of trees, usually on a large scale
Example
The region has been heavily deforested for agriculture.
Die Region wurde für die Landwirtschaft stark abgeholzt.
C1 verb /dɪˈtɛst/

detest

verabscheuen
Meaning
To dislike intensely or hate.
Example
I detest waking up early on weekends.
Ich verabscheue es, am Wochenende früh aufzuwachen.
C1 verb /ˈdrɪbəl/

dribble

tropfen / den Ball mit kleinen Stößen spielen
Meaning
to let liquid flow slowly in drops or to move a ball skillfully with repeated small kicks or bounces
Example
The baby dribbled milk on his shirt.
Das Baby hat Milch auf sein Hemd getropft.
C1 noun /ˈdek.ə.dəns/

decadence

Dekadenz
Meaning
Moral or cultural decline characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
Example
The novel describes the decadence of the wealthy elite.
Der Roman beschreibt den Verfall der wohlhabenden Elite.
C1 noun /ˈdɪsɪdənt/

dissident

Dissident
Meaning
A person who opposes official policy, especially that of an authoritarian state.
Example
The dissident was arrested for speaking against the government.
Der Dissident wurde verhaftet, weil er gegen die Regierung sprach.
C1 noun dɪˈspær.ə.ti

disparity

Disparität
Meaning
A great difference or inequality.
Example
Disparity between countries must be reduced.
Die Disparität zwischen den Ländern muss reduziert werden.
C1 verb /daɪˈleɪt/

dilate

erweitern
Meaning
To make wider, larger, or more open.
Example
The doctor used drops to dilate the patient's pupils.
Der Arzt benutzte Tropfen, um die Pupillen des Patienten zu erweitern.
C1 verb /drɛntʃ/

drench

durchnässen
Meaning
to make someone or something completely wet
Example
The sudden rain drenched the players on the field.
Der plötzliche Regen durchnässte die Spieler auf dem Feld.
C1 noun /dɪˌsem.ɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

dissemination

Verbreitung
Meaning
The action or fact of spreading something, especially information, widely.
Example
The dissemination of false information is a major issue.
Die Verbreitung falscher Informationen ist ein großes Problem.
C1 noun /ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/

detonation

Detonation
Meaning
The act of exploding or causing something to explode.
Example
The sudden detonation shook the entire building.
Die plötzliche Detonation erschütterte das ganze Gebäude.
C1 noun /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃɪˈeɪʃən/

differentiation

Differenzierung, Unterscheidung
Meaning
The action or process of differentiating or distinguishing between things.
Example
Differentiation from competitors can create a unique market position.
Die Differenzierung von Wettbewerbern kann eine einzigartige Marktposition schaffen.
C1 noun /ˌdiːpɔːrˈteɪʃən/

deportation

Abschiebung
Meaning
The act of expelling a foreigner from a country.
Example
The deportation of hundreds of workers sparked international criticism.
Die Abschiebung von Hunderten von Arbeitern löste internationale Kritik aus.
C1 verb /dɪˈflɛkt/

deflect

ablenken / ausweichen
Meaning
to cause something to change direction; to avoid answering directly
Example
The shield deflected the incoming arrow.
Der Schild hat den eintreffenden Pfeil abgelenkt.
C1 noun /drɑːft/ (UK), /dræft/ (US)

draught

Meaning
a current of cool air in a room or another confined space; also a portion of liquid, especially beer, served from a barrel or cask
Example
She closed the window to keep out the cold draught.
C1 adjective /ˈdestatəʊt/

Destitute

mittellos; arm; ohne Geld oder Besitz
Meaning
extremely poor; without money or possessions
Example
Many families became destitute after the economic collapse.
Viele Familien wurden nach dem wirtschaftlichen Zusammenbruch mittellos.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪmˈbɑːrk/

disembark

von Bord gehen
Meaning
To leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Example
The passengers disembarked from the plane after landing.
Die Passagiere stiegen nach der Landung aus dem Flugzeug aus.
C1 verb /ˈdæŋɡəl/

dangle

hängen
Meaning
to hang loosely or swing freely
Example
The keys dangled from his belt.
Die Schlüssel hingen von seinem Gürtel.
C1 verb /dɪˈfrɔːd/

defraud

betrügen
Meaning
to illegally take money or valuables from someone by deception
Example
The company was accused of trying to defraud investors.
Das Unternehmen wurde beschuldigt, Investoren zu betrügen.
C1 noun /ˈdɑːrwɪnɪzəm/

darwinism

Darwinismus
Meaning
the theory of biological evolution developed by Charles Darwin, emphasizing natural selection
Example
Darwinism revolutionized the way scientists understood the origin of species.
Der Darwinismus revolutionierte die Art und Weise, wie Wissenschaftler den Ursprung der Arten verstanden.