disarm
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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 noun /dɪn/

din

Lärm
Meaning
a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise
Example
The din of traffic outside made it hard to concentrate.
Der Lärm des Verkehrs draußen erschwerte das Konzentrieren.
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 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 /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 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 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 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 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 /ˈdæŋɡəl/

dangle

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

diorama

Diorama
Meaning
a three-dimensional model representing a scene, often with miniature figures
Example
The museum displayed a diorama of an ancient village.
Das Museum zeigte ein Diorama eines alten Dorfes.
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 phrase ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk rɛz.əˈluː.ʃən

diplomatic resolution

diplomatische Lösung
Meaning
A peaceful solution to conflicts through negotiation and diplomatic channels.
Example
A diplomatic resolution is necessary for peace.
Eine diplomatische Lösung ist notwendig für den Frieden.
C1 verb /diːˈfjuːz/

defuse

entschärfen
Meaning
To make a situation less dangerous, tense, or explosive; to remove a fuse from a bomb.
Example
The negotiator helped defuse the tense situation.
Der Verhandlungsführer half, die angespannte Situation zu entschärfen.
C1 noun ˈdɛf.ər.əns

deference

Respekt
Meaning
Humble submission and respect.
Example
He showed deference to his elderly mentor.
Er zeigte Respekt gegenüber seinem älteren Mentor.
C1 noun /ˈdiːviəns/

deviance

Abweichung
Meaning
Behavior that differs from accepted social or moral standards.
Example
The book studies deviance in urban youth culture.
Das Buch untersucht Abweichung in der urbanen Jugendkultur.
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 adjective /dɪˈlɪriəs/

delirious

delirisch
Meaning
in an extremely disturbed or excited state of mind, often due to illness or emotion
Example
He was delirious with fever and kept muttering nonsense.
Er war delirisch vor Fieber und murmelte Unsinn.
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 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 dɪˈfleɪʃən

deflation

Deflation
Meaning
Reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.
Example
Deflation often leads to decreased consumer spending.
Deflation führt oft zu sinkenden Konsumausgaben.
C1 noun ˌdiːˌrɛɡ.jʊˈleɪ.ʃən

deregulation

Deregulierung
Meaning
The removal or reduction of government regulations in an economic sector.
Example
Deregulation has increased competition in the telecommunications sector.
Die Deregulierung hat den Wettbewerb im Telekommunikationssektor erhöht.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnəbl/

discernible

wahrnehmbar
Meaning
able to be seen, recognized, or understood
Example
There was a discernible change in his behavior.
Es gab eine wahrnehmbare Veränderung in seinem Verhalten.
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 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 /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 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 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 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 /ˌdɪspɛnˈseɪʃən/

dispensation

Ausnahme
Meaning
An exemption from a rule or usual requirement; a system of order, government, or control.
Example
The school granted him a special dispensation to skip the exam due to illness.
Die Schule gewährte ihm aufgrund einer Erkrankung eine besondere Ausnahmegenehmigung, die Prüfung zu versäumen.
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 /dɔːnt/

daunt

abschrecken
Meaning
to make someone feel intimidated, discouraged, or less confident
Example
The steep climb did not daunt the experienced hikers.
Der steile Anstieg hat die erfahrenen Wanderer nicht eingeschüchtert.
C1 noun ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən

degradation

Degradierung
Meaning
The condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
Example
Soil degradation due to overuse is a growing issue.
Bodenzerstörung durch Übernutzung ist ein wachsendes Problem.
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 /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 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 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 /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 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 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 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 /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 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 /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 /daɪˈvɜː.dʒəns/

divergence

Divergenz
Meaning
The process or state of diverging; a difference or deviation between two or more things.
Example
The divergence in their opinions led to a heated debate.
Die Divergenz in ihren Meinungen führte zu einer hitzigen Debatte.
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 noun /dɪˈfɔː.mə.ti/

Deformity

Deformation; körperliche Missbildung
Meaning
a distorted or unnatural shape or form; physical malformation
Example
The accident caused a permanent deformity in his left hand.
Der Unfall verursachte eine dauerhafte Deformation in seiner linken Hand.
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 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 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 /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 verb /ˈdræm.ə.taɪz/

dramatize

dramatizieren
Meaning
to present a story in a dramatic way, or to exaggerate something
Example
The novel was dramatized into a popular TV series.
Der Roman wurde in eine beliebte Fernsehserie dramatisiert.
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 /ˌdɛfəˈmeɪʃən/

defamation

Verleumdung
Meaning
the act of damaging someone's reputation by making false statements
Example
The newspaper was sued for defamation of character.
Die Zeitung wurde wegen Verleumdung verklagt.
C1 noun /ˈdɛljuːdʒ/

deluge

Überschwemmung
Meaning
A severe flood; an overwhelming quantity of something.
Example
The town was hit by a deluge of rain in just a few hours.
Die Stadt wurde in nur wenigen Stunden von einem Überschuss an Regen getroffen.
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 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 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 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 adjective /dɪˈspɒndənt/

despondent

niedergeschlagen
Meaning
feeling or showing deep hopelessness or discouragement
Example
She felt despondent after losing her job.
Sie fühlte sich niedergeschlagen, nachdem sie ihren Job verloren hatte.
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 noun /ˈdeɪtəm/ or /ˈdætəm/

datum

Datenpunkt
Meaning
a single piece of information; a fact used as a basis for reasoning or calculation
Example
Each datum in the survey was carefully analyzed.
Jeder Datenpunkt in der Umfrage wurde sorgfältig analysiert.
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 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 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 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 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 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 /dɪˈpoʊz/

depose

absetzen
Meaning
to remove someone from office or power, especially suddenly and forcefully
Example
The rebels managed to depose the dictator after years of unrest.
Die Rebellen schafften es, den Diktator nach Jahren der Unruhen abzusetzen.
C1 verb /daɪˈɡrɛs/

digress

vorübergehend vom Hauptthema abweichen
Meaning
To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
Example
The professor began to digress from the main topic of the lecture.
Der Professor begann, vom Hauptthema der Vorlesung abzuweichen.
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 /dɪsˈhɑːrtn/

dishearten

entmutigen
Meaning
to cause someone to lose determination or confidence; to discourage
Example
The constant rejection letters began to dishearten the young writer.
Die ständigen Ablehnungsbriefe begannen, den jungen Schriftsteller zu entmutigen.
C1 noun /dɪˈfen.dənt/

Defendant

Beklagte
Meaning
an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law
Example
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him.
Der Beklagte plädierte auf nicht schuldig in Bezug auf alle gegen ihn erhobenen Anklagen.
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 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 /dɪˈfaɪl/

defile

entweihen
Meaning
to pollute, corrupt, or make dirty
Example
The river was defiled by industrial waste.
Der Fluss wurde durch Industrieabfälle entweiht.
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, noun /ˌdɪsɪˈluːʒən/

disillusion

Desillusion
Meaning
to cause someone to realize that something is not as good as they believed
Example
The scandal disillusioned many voters.
Der Skandal hat viele Wähler desillusioniert.
C1 noun /dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃənz/

deliberations

Überlegungen
Meaning
Careful consideration and discussion before making decisions.
Example
Deliberations on sustainability continued for hours.
Die Überlegungen zur Nachhaltigkeit dauerten stundenlang.
C1 verb /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/

debunk

widerlegen, die Falschheit von etwas aufdecken
Meaning
Expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).
Example
Scientists debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism.
Wissenschaftler widerlegten den Mythos, dass Impfstoffe Autismus verursachen.
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 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 /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 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 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.
C1 noun /ˌdɛsɪˈmeɪʃən/

decimation

Vernichtung
Meaning
The act of destroying or killing a large proportion of something.
Example
The decimation of the city left thousands homeless.
Die Vernichtung der Stadt ließ Tausende obdachlos zurück.
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 /dɜːrθ/

dearth

Mangel
Meaning
A scarcity or lack of something.
Example
There was a dearth of food during the famine.
Es gab einen Mangel an Nahrung während der Hungersnot.
C1 noun /ˈdæmpər/

damper

etwas, das die Kraft, Wirkung oder Aufregung reduziert oder verringert
Meaning
something that reduces or lessens the force, effect, or excitement
Example
The cancellation of the trip put a damper on their enthusiasm.
Die Absage der Reise dämpfte ihre Begeisterung.
C1 noun /dɪsˈsɜːrvɪs/

disservice

Schaden
Meaning
A harmful action; something that does damage rather than help.
Example
Spreading false information is a disservice to the community.
Falsche Informationen zu verbreiten ist ein Schaden für die Gemeinschaft.
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 /ˈdɛsɪmeɪt/

decimate

verderben
Meaning
To destroy or kill a large proportion of something.
Example
The wildfire decimated the forest.
Der Waldbrand zerstörte den Wald.
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 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 adjective /dɪˈmɒnstrətɪv/

demonstrative

ausdrucksvoll
Meaning
openly showing feelings, especially affection or emotion
Example
She was very demonstrative with her affection towards her friends.
Sie war sehr ausdrucksvoll mit ihrer Zuneigung zu ihren Freunden.
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 /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 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 /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 verb /daʊs/

douse

löschen / gießen
Meaning
to pour liquid over; to extinguish a fire or light
Example
Firefighters doused the flames with water.
Die Feuerwehrleute löschten die Flammen mit Wasser.
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 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 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 /ˌdɪs.ɪˈluː.ʒən.mənt/

disillusionment

Desillusion
Meaning
A feeling of disappointment resulting from the discovery that something is not as good as one believed it to be.
Example
Many people experience disillusionment after unrealistic expectations.
Viele Menschen erleben eine Desillusion nach unrealistischen Erwartungen.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 /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 dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deliberation

Überlegung
Meaning
Long and careful consideration or discussion.
Example
The agreement was finalized after much deliberation.
Die Vereinbarung wurde nach viel Überlegung finalisiert.
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 /ˈdɛspətɪzəm/

despotism

Despotismus
Meaning
absolute power exercised in a cruel and oppressive way
Example
The people revolted against the era of despotism.
Das Volk erhob sich gegen das Zeitalter des Despotismus.
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 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 /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 verb /dɪˈpliːt/

deplete

erschöpfen
Meaning
to reduce the quantity or supply of something
Example
The long war has depleted the country's resources.
Der lange Krieg hat die Ressourcen des Landes erschöpft.