depressant
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C1 noun /dɪˈprɛsənt/

depressant

Beruhigungsmittel
Meaning
A drug that reduces functional or nervous activity in the body.
Example
Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system.
Alkohol wirkt als Beruhigungsmittel auf das zentrale Nervensystem.
C1 verb diːˈsɛn.sɪ.taɪz

desensitize

desensibilisieren
Meaning
To make someone less sensitive or reactive to something through repeated exposure.
Example
Constant exposure to violence can desensitize people.
Die ständige Exposition gegenüber Gewalt kann Menschen desensibilisieren.
C1 verb /dɪˈfjuːz/

diffuse

verbreiten
Meaning
to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people
Example
The smell of fresh bread diffused through the entire house.
Der Duft von frischem Brot verbreitete sich im ganzen Haus.
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 /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 /ˈdaʊ.ər/

dour

strikt
Meaning
relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance
Example
His dour expression made the meeting uncomfortable.
Sein strenges Gesichtsausdruck machte das Treffen unangenehm.
C1 noun ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪk trænˈzɪʃən

demographic transition

demografischer Übergang
Meaning
A shift in population patterns from high birth and death rates to low birth and death rates as a country develops economically
Example
The demographic transition indicates a shift towards an aging society.
Der demografische Übergang zeigt einen Wandel hin zu einer alternden Gesellschaft.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪn.dʒi/

Dingy

dunkel und schmutzig; trübe in der Farbe
Meaning
dark and dirty; gloomy; dull in color
Example
The old building had dingy walls that needed painting.
Das alte Gebäude hatte schmutzige Wände, die gestrichen werden mussten.
C1 noun, adjective /dɪˈfiːtɪst/

defeatist

Niederträchtig
Meaning
A person who expects or is excessively ready to accept failure; showing a tendency to expect defeat.
Example
His defeatist attitude discouraged the rest of the team.
Seine niederträchtige Einstellung entmutigte den Rest des Teams.
C1 noun /dɪˈstɔːrʃən/

distortion

Verzerrung, falsche Darstellung
Meaning
the action of twisting, changing, or misrepresenting the shape, sound, or truth of something
Example
There was a distortion in the radio signal.
Es gab eine Verzerrung im Radiosignal.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛnt/

dissent

widersprechen
Meaning
To hold or express opinions that are different from those officially accepted.
Example
Several members dissented from the majority decision.
Mehrere Mitglieder stimmten gegen die Mehrheitsentscheidung.
C1 noun /dɪˈkriː/

Decree

Dekret
Meaning
an official order issued by a legal authority; a judicial decision or edict
Example
The king issued a decree that all citizens must pay additional taxes.
Der König erließ ein Dekret, dass alle Bürger zusätzliche Steuern zahlen müssen.
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 /dəˈmɛstɪkeɪt/

domesticate

domestizieren
Meaning
to tame an animal for use by humans; to adapt something for domestic use
Example
Humans domesticated dogs thousands of years ago.
Menschen domestizierten Hunde vor Tausenden von Jahren.
C1 verb /dɪˈsweɪd/

dissuade

abhalten, abbringen
Meaning
To persuade someone not to do something.
Example
She tried to dissuade him from quitting his job.
Sie versuchte, ihn davon abzuhalten, seinen Job zu kündigen.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃəl/

differential

differenziell
Meaning
Relating to or showing a difference; involving a distinction.
Example
There is a differential treatment between the two groups.
Es gibt eine differenzielle Behandlung zwischen den beiden Gruppen.
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 /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪtər/

demonstrator

Demonstrator, Protestierender
Meaning
a person who shows how something works or takes part in a public protest
Example
The demonstrators marched peacefully through the city streets.
Die Demonstranten marschierten friedlich durch die Straßen der Stadt.
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 /dɪˈsɜːn.mənt/

discernment

Urteilsvermögen
Meaning
The ability to judge well or understand something correctly; keen insight.
Example
His discernment in business decisions made him successful.
Sein Urteilsvermögen in Geschäft Entscheidungen machte ihn erfolgreich.
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 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 noun /dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən/

denomination

Konfession, Wert
Meaning
a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church; a unit of value or currency
Example
The church belongs to a Protestant denomination.
Die Kirche gehört einer protestantischen Konfession an.
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 /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 adjective /dɪsˈkwaɪətɪŋ/

disquieting

besorgniserregend
Meaning
Causing worry, unease, or anxiety.
Example
The news report was deeply disquieting to the public.
Der Nachrichtenbericht war für die Öffentlichkeit zutiefst besorgniserregend.
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 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 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 /dɪˈfaɪəns/

defiance

Herausforderung
Meaning
Open resistance or bold disobedience.
Example
The protest was an act of defiance against injustice.
Der Protest war ein Akt der Herausforderung gegen das Unrecht.
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 adjective, noun /ˈdɛrəlɪkt/

derelict

verlassen
Meaning
in poor condition due to neglect or disuse; a homeless or neglected person
Example
The old factory stood derelict for decades.
Die alte Fabrik stand jahrzehntelang verlassen.
C1 verb /diːˈhaɪdreɪt/

dehydrate

dehydrieren
Meaning
to remove water from something; to lose water or body fluids
Example
Running in the heat can quickly dehydrate you.
Laufen bei der Hitze kann dich schnell dehydrieren.
C1 verb /ˈdæb.əl/

dabble

herumexperimentieren
Meaning
To take part in an activity in a casual or superficial way.
Example
He dabbled in painting during his college days.
Er dabbelte in der Malerei während seiner Studienzeit.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɒnstrəbl/

demonstrable

nachweisbar
Meaning
clearly able to be shown or proven
Example
There was demonstrable evidence that he was innocent.
Es gab nachweisbare Beweise dafür, dass er unschuldig war.
C1 verb /dɪsˈkwɑːlɪfaɪ/

disqualify

disqualifizieren
Meaning
to officially prevent someone from participating or being eligible
Example
The referee decided to disqualify the player for cheating.
Der Schiedsrichter entschied sich, den Spieler für das Schummeln zu disqualifizieren.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈpæʃənət/

dispassionate

unbeteiligt
Meaning
not influenced by strong emotion; impartial
Example
The judge remained dispassionate throughout the trial.
Der Richter blieb während des gesamten Prozesses unbeteiligt.
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 adjective dɪ ˈskrɛʃ.ən.er.i

discretionary

diskretionär
Meaning
Available for use at the discretion of the user; not required or mandatory.
Example
He set aside some discretionary income for travel.
Er hat etwas diskretionäres Einkommen für Reisen beiseitegelegt.
C1 noun /ˌdiːˈmer.ɪt/

Demerit

Fehler; Nachteil; Marke für einen Fehler oder ein Vergehen
Meaning
a fault or disadvantage; a mark given for a fault or offense
Example
The student received a demerit for arriving late to class repeatedly.
Der Schüler erhielt ein Dämérit, weil er wiederholt zu spät zum Unterricht kam.
C1 noun, verb /dɪsˈɑːnər/

dishonor

Schande
Meaning
a state of shame or loss of respect; to bring shame upon someone or something
Example
The soldier felt he had brought dishonor to his family.
Der Soldat fühlte, dass er seiner Familie Schande gebracht hatte.
C1 verb /dɪsˈpleɪs/

displace

verdrängen
Meaning
to force someone or something out of their usual or original position; to replace or substitute
Example
The new technology will displace many traditional manufacturing jobs.
Die neue Technologie wird viele traditionelle Fertigungsjobs verdrängen.
C1 noun /daɪˈvɜː.ʃən/

Diversion

Umleitung
Meaning
the action of turning something aside from its course; an activity that diverts the mind
Example
The road closure forced a diversion through the countryside for all travelers.
Die Straßensperrung zwang zu einer Umleitung durch die Landschaft für alle Reisenden.
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 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 adjective /ˈdaʊn.kæst/

downcast

niedergeschlagen
Meaning
feeling sad, dejected, or with lowered eyes
Example
He looked downcast after hearing the bad news.
Er wirkte niedergeschlagen, nachdem er die schlechten Nachrichten gehört hatte.
C1 noun /ˌdɜːrməˈtɑːlədʒɪst/

dermatologist

dermatologe
Meaning
A doctor who specializes in the treatment of skin diseases.
Example
She consulted a dermatologist for her skin allergy.
Sie konsultierte einen Dermatologen wegen ihrer Hautallergie.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈkɔːrdənt/

discordant

diskordant
Meaning
disagreeing or clashing; harsh and jarring in sound
Example
The discordant notes of the band hurt our ears.
Die discordanten Noten der Band taten unseren Ohren weh.
C1 adjective /dæft/

daft

dumm
Meaning
Silly or foolish.
Example
It was a daft idea to go hiking without water.
Es war eine dumme Idee, ohne Wasser wandern zu gehen.
C1 adjective deft

deft

geschickt
Meaning
Neatly skillful and quick in one's movements; dexterous and adroit.
Example
The artist's deft hands created a masterpiece.
Die geschickten Hände des Künstlers schufen ein Meisterwerk.
C1 noun /dɪˈmiːnər/

demeanour

verhalten
Meaning
a person's outward behavior or appearance
Example
Her calm demeanour impressed everyone during the meeting.
Ihr ruhiges Verhalten beeindruckte alle während des Treffens.
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 /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/adjective /dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/

degenerate

degenerieren
Meaning
To decline or deteriorate in quality, character, or condition; or someone with low moral standards.
Example
The once thriving empire began to degenerate into chaos.
Das einst blühende Reich begann, in Chaos zu degenerieren.
C1 adjective /daɪˈvɜːrsɪfaɪd/

diversified

diversifiziert
Meaning
Made or having variety in form, nature, or content.
Example
The company adopted a diversified business strategy to reduce risks.
Das Unternehmen hat eine diversifizierte Geschäftsstrategie übernommen, um Risiken zu reduzieren.
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 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 /daɪˈvɛst/

divest

abstoßen
Meaning
to strip away possessions, rights, or assets; to rid oneself of
Example
The company decided to divest its unprofitable division.
Das Unternehmen hat beschlossen, sich von seiner unrentablen Abteilung zu trennen.
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 noun dɪˈskrep.ən.siz

discrepancies

Abweichung
Meaning
Differences between things that should be the same
Example
Discrepancies in regulations delay progress.
Abweichungen in den Vorschriften verzögern den Fortschritt.
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 noun dɛkˈstɛr.ɪ.ti

dexterity

Geschicklichkeit
Meaning
Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands; mental skill or adroitness.
Example
His dexterity in playing the piano amazed the audience.
Seine Geschicklichkeit beim Klavierspielen erstaunte das Publikum.
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 /ˈdaɪhɑːrd/

diehard

Hardliner
Meaning
A person who strongly resists change and remains loyal to a belief or cause.
Example
He is a diehard fan of classic rock music.
Er ist ein eingefleischter Fan von klassischer Rockmusik.
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 adjective /ˈdɒɡɪd/

dogged

hartnäckig
Meaning
showing stubborn determination and persistence
Example
She succeeded through dogged determination.
Sie hatte Erfolg durch ihre hartnäckige Entschlossenheit.
C1 adjective /diːˈsɛntrəlaɪzd/

decentralized

dezentralisiert
Meaning
Controlled by several local offices or authorities rather than one single one.
Example
The decentralized system allowed for more control at local levels.
Das dezentralisierte System ermöglichte mehr Kontrolle auf lokaler Ebene.
C1 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discrete

diskret
Meaning
individually separate and distinct
Example
The course is divided into three discrete modules.
Der Kurs ist in drei diskrete Module unterteilt.
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 /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 verb /dɪˈfeɪm/

defame

verleumden
Meaning
to harm someone's reputation by spreading false information
Example
He was defamed by malicious rumors.
Er wurde durch bösartige Gerüchte diffamiert.
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 verb /daɪˈvʌldʒ/

divulge

enthüllen
Meaning
to make known something private, secret, or previously unknown
Example
She refused to divulge the source of her information.
Sie weigerte sich, die Quelle ihrer Informationen zu enthüllen.
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 adjective /dɪˈplɔːrəbl/

deplorable

verwerflich
Meaning
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad in quality
Example
The refugees were living in deplorable conditions.
Die Flüchtlinge lebten unter verwerflichen Bedingungen.
C1 noun /ˈdɪm.pəl/

Dimple

Grübchen
Meaning
a small depression in the flesh, either one that exists permanently or one that forms when smiling
Example
Her charming dimples appeared whenever she smiled at the children.
Ihre charmanten Grübchen erschienen immer, wenn sie den Kindern zulächelte.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/

diminutive

winzig
Meaning
extremely or unusually small
Example
Despite his diminutive size, he was a powerful leader.
Trotz seiner winzigen Größe war er ein mächtiger Anführer.
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 ˌdɪdʒɪˈnɛəreɪʃən

degeneration

Degeneration
Meaning
The process of decline or deterioration in structure or function.
Example
The degeneration of brain cells leads to cognitive decline.
Die Degeneration der Gehirnzellen führt zu kognitivem Verfall.
C1 verb /dɪsˈɡrʌntl/

disgruntle

verärgern
Meaning
to make someone dissatisfied or discontented
Example
The unfair treatment disgruntled the workers.
Die ungerechte Behandlung verärgerte die Arbeiter.
C1 noun /ˈdiːvə/

diva

berühmte Sängerin
Meaning
a famous female singer; a woman who is admired or behaves like a star
Example
The pop diva performed her latest hit to a cheering crowd.
Die Pop-Diva trat mit ihrem neuesten Hit vor einer jubelnden Menge auf.
C1 noun dɪˌzɝː.t̬ə.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

desertification

desertifikation
Meaning
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Example
Deforestation accelerates desertification.
Abholzung beschleunigt die Desertifikation.
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 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/verb /dɪsˈdeɪn/

disdain

Verachtung
Meaning
The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect; to regard with contempt.
Example
She looked at the messy room with open disdain.
Sie betrachtete das unordentliche Zimmer mit Verachtung.
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 /dɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/

Deficiency

Mangel; Defizit; Unzulänglichkeit
Meaning
a lack or shortage of something; inadequacy or insufficiency
Example
The doctor diagnosed a vitamin D deficiency in the patient's blood test.
Der Arzt diagnostizierte einen Vitamin-D-Mangel im Bluttest des Patienten.
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 /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 /dræb/

drab

eintönig
Meaning
Dull, lacking brightness or interest; monotonous.
Example
The room looked drab with its gray walls and dim lighting.
Der Raum sah mit seinen grauen Wänden und der gedämpften Beleuchtung eintönig aus.
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 /dɪsˈkʌlər/

discolor

verfärben
Meaning
to change color, especially in a way that spoils the original appearance
Example
The fabric began to discolor after being left in the sun.
Der Stoff begann sich zu verfärben, nachdem er in der Sonne gelassen wurde.
C1 adjective /dɪˈvɔɪd/

devoid

leer
Meaning
Completely lacking or without something.
Example
His speech was devoid of any real emotion.
Seine Rede war leer von jeglicher wirklicher Emotion.
C1 adjective /dɪˈʃɛvəld/

disheveled

unordentlich
Meaning
Untidy, messy, or in disorder, especially of hair or clothing.
Example
He arrived with disheveled hair and wrinkled clothes.
Er kam mit unordentlichen Haaren und zerknitterter Kleidung.
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 noun ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒəns

diligence

Fleiß
Meaning
Careful and persistent work or effort.
Example
Success requires patience and diligence.
Erfolg erfordert Geduld und Fleiß.
C1 verb /daɪˈluːt/

dilute

verdünnen
Meaning
To make a liquid thinner or weaker by adding water or another solvent.
Example
You should dilute the juice with water before serving it to children.
Du solltest den Saft mit Wasser verdünnen, bevor du ihn den Kindern servierst.
C1 adjective /dɪˈstrɔːt/

distraught

verstört
Meaning
extremely upset and anxious, often to the point of being unable to think clearly
Example
She was distraught after losing her pet.
Sie war verstört, nachdem sie ihr Haustier verloren hatte.
C1 noun ˈdɪk.ʃən

diction

Aussprache und Wortwahl
Meaning
The style of pronunciation and word choice in speaking or writing.
Example
A strong diction enhances communication skills.
Eine starke Diktat verbessert die Kommunikationsfähigkeiten.
C1 noun /ˈdrʌdʒəri/

drudgery

harte, monotone Arbeit
Meaning
Hard, menial, or dull work.
Example
She wanted to escape the drudgery of her daily routine.
Sie wollte der Monotonie ihrer täglichen Routine entkommen.
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 noun /dɪˈten.ʃən/

Detention

Haft; Untersuchungshaft
Meaning
the action of detaining someone or being detained in official custody
Example
The student received detention for repeatedly disrupting the class.
Der Schüler erhielt Haft für wiederholte Störungen im Unterricht.
C1 verb /dʌb/

dub

synchronisieren
Meaning
to give a name or label to something; to add a soundtrack to a film or recording
Example
The movie was dubbed into several languages for international release.
Der Film wurde in mehrere Sprachen synchronisiert für die internationale Veröffentlichung.
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 adjective /daɪər/

Dire

schlimm; dringend; schrecklich
Meaning
extremely serious; urgent; terrible
Example
The country is facing a dire economic crisis.
Das Land steht vor einer schlimmen wirtschaftlichen Krise.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfaɪənt/

Defiant

widerspenstig; trotzig
Meaning
boldly resistant or challenging; disobedient
Example
The defiant student refused to follow the rules.
Der widerspenstige Student weigerte sich, den Regeln zu folgen.
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 noun ˌdiː.sen.trə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

decentralization

Dezentralisierung
Meaning
The transfer of authority from central to local government.
Example
Decentralization promotes regional autonomy.
Dezentralisierung fördert die regionale Autonomie.
C1 noun /dɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

denunciation

Denunziation / öffentliche Anklage
Meaning
the public condemnation or accusation of someone or something
Example
The journalist's article was a strong denunciation of corruption.
Der Artikel des Journalisten war eine starke Denunziation der Korruption.
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 /dɪˈmɛntɪd/

demented

dement / irrational
Meaning
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
Example
He looked demented after hearing the shocking news.
Er sah dement aus, nachdem er die schockierenden Nachrichten gehört hatte.
C1 noun /djuːn/

dune

Düne
Meaning
A hill or ridge of sand formed by the wind, usually found in deserts or near beaches.
Example
The children played on the sand dune by the beach.
Die Kinder spielten auf der Sanddüne am Strand.
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 verb /dɪsˈpærɪdʒ/

disparage

herabsetzen
Meaning
to criticize someone or something in a way that shows a lack of respect
Example
It is unfair to disparage people for their opinions.
Es ist ungerecht, Menschen für ihre Meinungen herabzusetzen.
C1 verb /dɪˈluːd/

delude

täuschen
Meaning
To mislead someone into believing something that is not true.
Example
He deluded himself into thinking he could win the race without training.
Er täuschte sich selbst, indem er dachte, dass er das Rennen ohne Training gewinnen könnte.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsərˈteɪʃən/

dissertation

Dissertation
Meaning
A long piece of writing on a particular subject, usually written for a university degree.
Example
She spent two years writing her doctoral dissertation.
Sie verbrachte zwei Jahre mit dem Schreiben ihrer Dissertation.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsˈmaʊnt/

dismount

absteigen
Meaning
to get off or down from something, especially a horse, bicycle, or motorcycle
Example
The rider dismounted from the horse after a long journey.
Der Reiter stieg nach einer langen Reise vom Pferd ab.
C1 verb /dɪˈstɪl/

distill

destillieren
Meaning
To purify a liquid by heating and cooling; to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects.
Example
The factory distills water to make it safe for drinking.
Die Fabrik destilliert Wasser, um es trinkbar zu machen.
C1 adjective ˈdɔːn.tɪŋ

daunting

abschreckend oder herausfordernd
Meaning
Something that seems intimidating or challenging.
Example
The task seemed daunting, but she completed it successfully.
Die Aufgabe schien beängstigend, aber sie beendete sie erfolgreich.
C1 noun /ˈdɪsənˌtɛri/

dysentery

Darmkrankheit (Durchfall mit Blut und Schleim)
Meaning
An infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with blood and mucus.
Example
Many soldiers suffered from dysentery during the war.
Viele Soldaten litten während des Krieges an Dysenterie.
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.