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C1 verb /dɪˈraɪd/

deride

verspotten
Meaning
to mock or ridicule someone or something
Example
The critics derided the new movie for its poor script.
Die Kritiker verspoteten den neuen Film für sein schlechtes Skript.
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 /ˈdʊr.i.ən/

Durian

Durian
Meaning
a large spiky tropical fruit known for its strong smell and creamy custard-like flesh
Example
Durian is known as the king of fruits in Southeast Asia despite its pungent odor.
Durian ist in Südostasien trotz seines stechenden Geruchs als König der Früchte bekannt.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɪd.ju.əs/

deciduous

laubabwerfend
Meaning
Referring to trees that shed their leaves seasonally, typically in autumn.
Example
Oak and maple trees are deciduous, shedding leaves in autumn.
Eichen- und Ahornbäume sind laubabwerfend und werfen ihre Blätter im Herbst ab.
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 verb /dɪˈdjuːs/

deduce

schließen
Meaning
to reach a conclusion by reasoning or inference
Example
From the evidence, the detective deduced that the suspect was lying.
Aus den Beweisen schloss der Detektiv, dass der Verdächtige log.
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 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 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 /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 /ˈdaɪ.si/

dicey

riskant
Meaning
Risky or unpredictable; potentially dangerous.
Example
Investing in that company looks pretty dicey right now.
Investieren in diese Firma scheint im Moment ziemlich riskant zu sein.
C1 noun /dɪˈvɪnɪti/

divinity

göttlichkeit
Meaning
The quality or state of being divine; a deity.
Example
The priest spoke about the divinity of the soul.
Der Priester sprach über die Göttlichkeit der Seele.
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 /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 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 /deɪˈtɑːnt/

detente

Entspannung
Meaning
the easing of hostility or strained relations, especially between countries
Example
The two nations worked toward detente after decades of conflict.
Die beiden Nationen arbeiteten nach Jahrzehnten des Konflikts auf Entspannung hin
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 /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 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 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 /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 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 /dɪˈreɪndʒd/

deranged

verrückt
Meaning
mentally disturbed or insane; behaving irrationally
Example
The deranged man shouted nonsense in the street.
Der verrückte Mann schrie Unsinn auf der Straße.
C1 verb /doʊt/

dote

verwöhnen
Meaning
to show excessive love or fondness for someone or something
Example
She tends to dote on her grandchildren.
Sie neigt dazu, ihre Enkelkinder zu verwöhnen.
C1 verb /dɪˈmɔrəˌlaɪz/

demoralize

demoralisieren
Meaning
to cause someone to lose confidence or hope
Example
The constant criticism demoralized the young athlete.
Die ständige Kritik demoralisiert den jungen Athleten.
C1 noun /dɪˈsaɪ.pəl/

Disciple

Jünger; Anhänger
Meaning
a follower and student of a teacher, leader, or philosopher; devoted follower
Example
The famous philosopher had many disciples who spread his teachings worldwide.
Der berühmte Philosoph hatte viele Jünger, die seine Lehren weltweit verbreiteten.
C1 verb ˈdwɪn.dl

dwindle

schwinden
Meaning
To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength; to become progressively smaller.
Example
His savings dwindled due to unexpected expenses.
Seine Ersparnisse schwanden aufgrund unerwarteter Ausgaben.
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 dɪˈlɪnieɪt

delineate

detailliert beschreiben
Meaning
To describe or portray something precisely
Example
The artist delineated the scene in intricate detail.
Der Künstler stellte die Szene mit komplexen Details dar.
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 noun ˌdɪs.æmˌbɪɡ.juˈeɪ.ʃən

disambiguation

Disambiguierung
Meaning
The removal of ambiguity by making something clear and unambiguous.
Example
The AI system applies disambiguation to refine text understanding.
Das KI-System wendet Disambiguierung an, um das Textverständnis zu verfeinern.
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 /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 /diːˈkrɪp.ʃən/

decryption

Dekodierung
Meaning
The process of converting encrypted data back into its original form so it can be understood.
Example
Hackers attempted decryption of classified data.
Hacker versuchten, die Dekodierung von klassifizierten Daten durchzuführen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsiːtfəl/

deceitful

betrügerisch
Meaning
Deliberately misleading or dishonest.
Example
She gave a deceitful answer to hide the truth.
Sie gab eine betrügerische Antwort, um die Wahrheit zu verbergen.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/

dilapidated

verfallen
Meaning
Fallen into disrepair or ruin due to neglect or age.
Example
The family lived in a dilapidated house at the edge of town.
Die Familie lebte in einem verfallenen Haus am Rande der Stadt.
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 noun /dɪˈrɪʒən/

derision

Verachtung
Meaning
Contemptuous ridicule or mockery.
Example
His ideas were greeted with derision by the audience.
Seine Ideen wurden vom Publikum mit Verachtung aufgenommen.
C1 noun /ˈdɪɡnɪˌtɛri/

dignitary

wichtige Person
Meaning
a person considered to be important because of high rank or office
Example
Several foreign dignitaries attended the state banquet.
Mehrere ausländische Würdenträger nahmen am Staatsbankett teil.
C1 noun/adjective /dɪˈtɜː.rənt/

deterrent

abschreckendes Mittel
Meaning
A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
Example
A strict law serves as a deterrent to crime.
Ein strenges Gesetz dient als abschreckendes Mittel gegen Verbrechen.
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 /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 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 /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 noun /dɪˈspɜːrʒən/

dispersion

Verteilung
Meaning
The action or process of distributing things or people over a wide area.
Example
The dispersion of seeds by the wind helps plants reproduce.
Die Verteilung von Samen durch den Wind hilft Pflanzen, sich zu vermehren.
C1 noun /dɪˈpɑːzətɔːri/

depository

Depot, Lager
Meaning
a place where things are stored or deposited, especially financial assets
Example
The national depository safeguards all government bonds.
Das nationale Depot schützt alle Staatsanleihen.
C1 verb /dɪˈvɒlv/

devolve

übertragen
Meaning
To pass power, responsibility, or duties to another person or group.
Example
The responsibility will devolve on the new manager.
Die Verantwortung wird auf den neuen Manager übertragen.
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 /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 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 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 /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 noun /daɪˈsɛkʃən/

dissection

Sezierung
Meaning
the act of cutting apart or analyzing something in detail, especially a body or structure
Example
The dissection of the specimen revealed important details about its structure.
Die Sezierung des Exemplars enthüllte wichtige Details über seine Struktur.
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 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 /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 ˌdaɪvɜːsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

diversification

Diversifikation
Meaning
The practice of spreading investments across various assets or sectors to reduce risk.
Example
Diversification helps to reduce investment risk.
Diversifikation hilft, das Investitionsrisiko zu verringern.
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 /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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 verb /ˈduːdəl/

doodle

kritzeln
Meaning
To draw or scribble absentmindedly, often while thinking about something else.
Example
She doodled flowers in the corner of her notebook during class.
Sie kritzelte Blumen in die Ecke ihres Notizbuchs während des Unterrichts.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛləˌreɪt/

decelerate

verlangsamen
Meaning
to reduce speed; to slow down
Example
The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light.
Das Auto begann, langsamer zu werden, als es sich der Ampel näherte.
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 /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 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 noun /ˈduːmz.deɪ/

Doomsday

der Jüngste Tag; der Tag des Weltuntergangs
Meaning
the last day of the world's existence; a time of catastrophic destruction
Example
The preacher spoke about doomsday and the importance of preparing spiritually.
Der Prediger sprach über den Jüngsten Tag und die Bedeutung der spirituellen Vorbereitung.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈɡeɪdʒ/

disengage

abkoppeln
Meaning
To release or detach oneself from something; to withdraw.
Example
He tried to disengage from the heated argument.
Er versuchte, sich aus der hitzigen Diskussion abzukoppeln.
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 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 /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 /ˌdɪstɪˈleɪʃən/

distillation

Destillation
Meaning
The process of purifying a liquid by heating and cooling; the extraction of the essential meaning.
Example
Distillation is commonly used to produce alcoholic beverages.
Destillation wird häufig zur Herstellung alkoholischer Getränke verwendet.
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 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/

derivation

Ableitung
Meaning
The origin or development of something from a source.
Example
The derivation of the word comes from Latin.
Die Ableitung des Wortes kommt aus dem Lateinischen.
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 noun/verb /ˈdiːkɔɪ/

decoy

Lockvogel
Meaning
something or someone used to lure or mislead
Example
The hunters used a wooden duck as a decoy.
Die Jäger benutzten eine hölzerne Ente als Lockvogel.
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 noun /dɪˈskrep.ən.si/

discrepancy

Diskrepanz, Unterschied, Unstimmigkeit
Meaning
A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.
Example
The audit revealed a discrepancy between the reported earnings and actual income.
Die Prüfung hat eine Diskrepanz zwischen den gemeldeten Einnahmen und den tatsächlichen Einkünften aufgedeckt.
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 /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 dɪˈtætʃ.mənt

detachment

Loslösung
Meaning
The state of being objective or aloof; not being emotionally involved.
Example
Buddhist philosophy encourages detachment from material desires.
Die buddhistische Philosophie fördert die Loslösung von materiellen Begierden.
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 /dɪˈsɛkt/

dissect

sezieren
Meaning
to cut apart an animal, plant, or other organism to study its internal parts; to analyze something in detail
Example
In biology class, students had to dissect a frog to learn about its anatomy.
Im Biologieunterricht mussten die Schüler einen Frosch sezieren, um seine Anatomie zu lernen.
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 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 adjective /ˈdɪzməl/

Dismal

düster; deprimierend; traurig
Meaning
gloomy; depressing; causing sadness or despair
Example
The weather was dismal with heavy rain and dark clouds.
Das Wetter war düster mit starkem Regen und dunklen Wolken.
C1 adjective dɒɡˈmæt.ɪk

dogmatic

dogmatisch
Meaning
Being inclined to lay down principles as incontrovertibly true; characterized by arrogant assertion of unproven principles.
Example
His dogmatic approach to politics made discussions difficult.
Sein dogmatischer Ansatz in der Politik erschwerte die Diskussionen.
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 verb /ˈdiːmɑːrˌkeɪt/

demarcate

abgrenzen
Meaning
to set the boundaries or limits of something
Example
The land was demarcated with fences to avoid disputes.
Das Land wurde mit Zäunen abgegrenzt, um Streitigkeiten zu vermeiden.
C1 verb /dɪˈtrækt/

detract

minderwertig machen
Meaning
To reduce or take away the worth or value of something.
Example
His rude behavior will detract from his good reputation.
Sein unhöfliches Verhalten wird seinen guten Ruf schmälern.
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 adjective /dɪˈrɒɡətɔːri/

derogatory

abwertend
Meaning
Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.
Example
The article contained derogatory comments about the politician.
Der Artikel enthielt abwertende Kommentare über den Politiker.
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 /dɪˈspɪrɪtɪd/

dispirited

entmutigt
Meaning
Having lost enthusiasm, hope, or confidence; dejected.
Example
After losing the match, the team looked dispirited.
Nach der Niederlage sah das Team entmutigt aus.
C1 verb /dɪˈfɔːrm/

deform

verformen
Meaning
to change the shape or form of something, especially in a way that makes it ugly or damaged; to distort
Example
The intense heat began to deform the plastic container.
Die intensive Hitze begann, den Plastikbehälter zu verformen.
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 /dɪsˈkleɪm/

disclaim

abstreiten
Meaning
to deny responsibility or connection with something
Example
The company disclaimed responsibility for the accident.
Das Unternehmen stritt die Verantwortung für den Unfall ab.
C1 verb /dɪsˈtrʌst/

distrust

misstrauen
Meaning
to have no confidence or trust in someone or something
Example
Many people distrust politicians.
Viele Menschen misstrauen Politikern.
C1 noun ˌdjʊə.rəˈbɪl.ə.ti

durability

Haltbarkeit
Meaning
The ability to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; hard-wearing.
Example
The durability of materials affects performance.
Die Haltbarkeit von Materialien beeinflusst die Leistung.
C1 adjective /ˈdeɪnti/

dainty

zart und hübsch
Meaning
Delicately small, pretty, and often considered elegant.
Example
She wore a dainty necklace made of pearls.
Sie trug eine zarte Halskette aus Perlen.
C1 noun ˌdɪs.ɪnˈfek.ʃən

disinfection

Desinfektion
Meaning
The process of destroying harmful microorganisms to prevent infection.
Example
Kitchen appliances require frequent disinfection.
Küchengeräte erfordern häufige Desinfektion.
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 /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 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 /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 noun /dɪsˈɒn.ər/

Dishonour

Schande
Meaning
a state of shame or disgrace; lack of honor or integrity; failure to fulfill obligations
Example
Breaking his promise brought dishonour to his name and family legacy.
Das Brechen seines Versprechens brachte Schande auf seinen Namen und sein Familienerbe.
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 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 verb /dɪˈspɜːrs/

disperse

zerstreuen
Meaning
To scatter or spread widely in different directions.
Example
The police used tear gas to disperse the crowd.
Die Polizei hat Tränengas eingesetzt, um die Menge zu zerstreuen.
C1 verb /ˈdɪsləkeɪt/

dislocate

auskugeln
Meaning
To disturb the normal position of something, especially a joint in the body.
Example
He dislocated his shoulder while playing football.
Er hat sich seine Schulter beim Fußballspielen ausgekugelt.
C1 verb /dɪsˈsætɪsfaɪ/

dissatisfy

enttäuschen
Meaning
to fail to please or meet expectations; to make someone unhappy
Example
The poor service dissatisfies many customers.
Der schlechte Service enttäuscht viele Kunden.
C1 noun daɪˈkɒtəmi

dichotomy

Dichotomie
Meaning
A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
Example
The dichotomy between tradition and modernity is often debated.
Die Dichotomie zwischen Tradition und Moderne wird oft diskutiert.
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 /ˈdɒktrɪn/

doctrine

doktrin
Meaning
A set of beliefs or principles held and taught by a religious, political, or other group.
Example
The church follows a strict doctrine on moral values.
Die Kirche folgt einer strengen Doktrin über moralische Werte.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.kʌl.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

discoloration

Verfärbung
Meaning
The process of changing or losing color; fading.
Example
Sun exposure causes discoloration of fabrics.
Sonnenexposition verursacht eine Verfärbung des Stoffs.