dissertation
All a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s t u v w x y z
All CEFR A1 A2 B1 B2 C1 C2
Content locale
EN Englisch BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Spanisch FR Französisch DE Deutsch RU Russisch ZH Chinesisch JA Japanisch
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
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 /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 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 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 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 /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 /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 /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 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 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 /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 /ˈdɛkədənt/

decadent

dekadent, luxuriös
Meaning
Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline; excessively self-indulgent.
Example
The party was filled with decadent luxury and excess.
Die Party war voller dekadenter Luxus und Exzesse.
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 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 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 /ˌdɜːrməˈtɑːlədʒi/

dermatology

dermatologie
Meaning
The branch of medicine concerned with the skin and its diseases.
Example
He studied dermatology at medical school.
Er hat Dermatologie an der medizinischen Fakultät studiert.
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 /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 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 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 adjective /dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/

disinterested

desinteressiert
Meaning
not influenced by personal interest; impartial or neutral
Example
The judge remained disinterested in the case.
Der Richter blieb im Fall desinteressiert.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsperɪŋ/

Despairing

verzweifelt
Meaning
feeling hopeless; in despair
Example
She felt despairing after losing her job.
Sie fühlte sich verzweifelt, nachdem sie ihren Job verloren hatte.
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 /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.
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 verb /dɪˈɡreɪd/

degrade

herabsetzen
Meaning
To lower in dignity, quality, or value; to treat with disrespect or to deteriorate.
Example
Harsh words can degrade a person's confidence.
Harte Worte können das Selbstvertrauen einer Person herabsetzen.
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 /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 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 /diːˌtɒksɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

detoxification

Entgiftung
Meaning
The process of removing toxic substances from a living organism.
Example
Detoxification helps to cleanse the body of harmful substances.
Detoxifikation hilft, den Körper von schädlichen Substanzen zu befreien.
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 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 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 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 /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 /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 /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 /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 /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 verb /ˈdɛprɪˌkeɪt/

deprecate

missbilligen
Meaning
to express disapproval of something
Example
The teacher deprecated the use of slang in academic essays.
Der Lehrer missbilligte den Gebrauch von Slang in akademischen Aufsätzen.
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 verb /dɪsˈlɒdʒ/

dislodge

vertreiben
Meaning
To remove or force out from a position, especially one that is fixed or hard to move.
Example
The troops dislodged the enemy from the hill.
Die Truppen vertrieben den Feind vom Hügel.
C1 adjective /ˈdesələt/

Desolate

verlassen; einsam; öde
Meaning
deserted; lonely; barren
Example
The abandoned village looked desolate and empty.
Das verlassene Dorf sah verlassen und leer aus.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪs/

deface

verunstalten
Meaning
to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it
Example
The vandals defaced the wall with graffiti.
Die Vandalen verunstalteten die Wand mit Graffiti.
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/verb /dɪsˈkwaɪət/

disquiet

Unruhe
Meaning
A feeling of worry or unease; to make someone feel anxious or uneasy.
Example
The strange silence filled the room with disquiet.
Die seltsame Stille füllte den Raum mit Unruhe.
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 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 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 /dɪˈpriːʃieɪt/

depreciate

abwerten
Meaning
to reduce in value over time
Example
Cars tend to depreciate quickly in their first few years.
Autos neigen dazu, schnell an Wert zu verlieren in den ersten Jahren.
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 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 /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 /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 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 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 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 /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 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 verb /dɪˈbeɪs/

debase

entwerten
Meaning
to reduce the quality, value, or dignity of something
Example
Corruption can debase the values of a society.
Korruption kann die Werte einer Gesellschaft entwerten.
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 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 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 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 /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 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 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 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 /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 /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 noun /dɪˈlɪriəm/

delirium

Delirium
Meaning
An acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence.
Example
The patient experienced delirium after the surgery due to the strong medication.
Der Patient erlebte nach der Operation aufgrund starker Medikamente Delirium.
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 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 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 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 /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 adjective dɪsˈfʌŋkʃənl

dysfunctional

dysfunktional
Meaning
Not operating normally or properly.
Example
The dysfunctional system led to numerous delays and errors.
Das dysfunktionale System verursachte zahlreiche Verzögerungen und Fehler.
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 /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 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 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 /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 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 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 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 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 /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 /ˈdɪŋɡi/

dinghy

kleines Boot
Meaning
a small boat, often carried or towed by a larger vessel, used for short trips or as a lifeboat
Example
They rowed the dinghy back to the yacht.
Sie ruderten das Dinghi zurück zum Yacht.
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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 /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 adjective daɪˈvɜː.dʒənt

divergent

divergent
Meaning
Tending to be different or develop in different directions
Example
Divergent policies create challenges in collaboration.
Divergente Politiken schaffen Herausforderungen in der Zusammenarbeit.
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 /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 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 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/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 /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/

discerning

scharfsinnig
Meaning
having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish well
Example
He is a discerning reader who notices subtle details.
Er ist ein scharfsinniger Leser, der subtile Details bemerkt.
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 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 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 /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 adjective /dɪˈspɜːrst/

dispersed

verstreut
Meaning
Scattered or spread across a wide area.
Example
The dispersed population made it difficult to provide public services.
Die verstreute Bevölkerung erschwerte die Bereitstellung öffentlicher Dienste.
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 /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 noun /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/

demagogue

Demagoge
Meaning
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
Example
The crowd was swayed by the fiery speeches of the demagogue.
Die Menge wurde von den leidenschaftlichen Reden des Demagogen beeinflusst.
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 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 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 /ˈdrɛsˌmeɪkər/

dressmaker

Schneiderin
Meaning
A person who makes or alters women's clothing professionally.
Example
The dressmaker crafted a beautiful gown for the bride.
Die Schneiderin fertigte ein schönes Kleid für die Braut an.