dragoon
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C2 verb /drəˈɡuːn/

dragoon

zwingen
Meaning
to force someone to do something through coercion or intimidation
Example
The manager tried to dragoon the team into working overtime.
Der Manager versuchte, das Team zu zwingen, Überstunden zu machen.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈdræs.tɪk/

Drastic

drastisch; schwerwiegend; weitreichend
Meaning
extreme; severe; having a strong or far-reaching effect
Example
The company took drastic measures to reduce costs.
Das Unternehmen ergriff drastische Maßnahmen, um die Kosten zu senken.
B2 noun /ˈdoʊnər/

donor

Spender
Meaning
A person who gives something, especially to a charity or cause.
Example
The donor contributed generously to the hospital’s new wing.
Der Spender hat großzügig zum neuen Flügel des Krankenhauses beigetragen.
B1 verb /ˈdɪfər/

differ

differieren
Meaning
to be unlike or distinct from something else
Example
Opinions differ on this issue.
Die Meinungen differieren zu diesem Thema.
C1 verb /diːˈkoʊd/

decode

dekodieren
Meaning
to convert a coded message into a readable form; to interpret meaning
Example
The software can decode the hidden message within seconds.
Die Software kann die versteckte Nachricht in wenigen Sekunden dekodieren.
A2 noun /ˈdʌst.bɪn/

Dustbin

Mülleimer
Meaning
a container for holding waste or garbage before disposal
Example
Please throw the paper into the dustbin after use.
Bitte werfen Sie das Papier nach Gebrauch in den Mülleimer.
C2 noun /ˈdændi/

dandy

Mann, der zu viel Wert auf sein Aussehen und seine Kleidung legt
Meaning
a man who gives too much attention to his appearance and clothes
Example
The young dandy spent hours grooming himself before the party.
Der junge Dandy verbrachte Stunden damit, sich vor der Party herauszuputzen.
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.
C2 noun /ˌdɪʃəˈbiːl/

dishabille

unordentlich gekleidet
Meaning
The state of being only partly or loosely dressed; casual or careless attire.
Example
She answered the door in a state of dishabille, wearing just a robe.
Sie öffnete die Tür in einem Zustand unordentlich gekleidet, nur mit einem Morgenmantel.
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.
C2 noun /dɪˈpoʊnənt/

deponent

Zeuge
Meaning
A person who gives testimony under oath, especially in a written deposition.
Example
The deponent confirmed the accuracy of the statement during the trial.
Der Zeuge bestätigte die Richtigkeit der Aussage während des Prozesses.
B2 verb /dɪˈstɔːrt/

distort

verzerren
Meaning
to twist or change the shape, appearance, or meaning of something so it is not true or accurate
Example
The mirror distorted her reflection.
Der Spiegel verzerrte ihr Spiegelbild.
B2 noun /daɪm/

dime

Zehn-Cent-Münze
Meaning
a small coin, especially a U.S. coin worth ten cents
Example
He gave me a dime for the phone call.
Er gab mir eine Zehn-Cent-Münze für das Telefonat.
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.
C2 noun /dəˈkɔɪt/

Dacoit

Bandit
Meaning
a member of an armed gang of robbers; a bandit, especially in India and Myanmar
Example
The village was terrorized by a gang of dacoits who robbed travelers.
Das Dorf wurde von einer Bande von Banditen terrorisiert, die Reisende ausraubten.
B2 noun /droʊn/

Drone

männliche biene
Meaning
a male bee that does not work and whose only function is to mate with the queen
Example
The drone bees do not collect honey like worker bees.
Die Drohnen sammeln keinen Honig wie die Arbeiterbienen.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsæprəˈbeɪʃən/

disapprobation

starke Ablehnung
Meaning
strong disapproval, typically on moral grounds
Example
The policy was met with widespread disapprobation.
Die Politik stieß auf weit verbreitete Ablehnung.
B2 noun /dɔːn/

Dawn

Morgenröte
Meaning
the first appearance of light in the sky before sunrise; the beginning or start of something
Example
The fishermen set out to sea before dawn to catch the morning tide.
Die Fischer fuhren vor der Morgendämmerung hinaus, um die Morgenflut zu fangen.
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.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmɒtɪk/

demotic

im Zusammenhang mit der Volkssprache
Meaning
relating to ordinary people or everyday language
Example
The poet used demotic language to connect with common readers.
Der Dichter benutzte eine Sprache, die mit der Volkssprache im Zusammenhang stand, um mit gewöhnlichen Lesern in Kontakt zu treten.
A1 adverb /daʊn/

down

unten
Meaning
from a higher to a lower position
Example
He walked down the stairs slowly.
Er ging langsam die Treppe hinunter.
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.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɪstəns/

desistance

Desistenz
Meaning
The act of stopping or ceasing from some action or behavior.
Example
The court urged his desistance from further unlawful activities.
Das Gericht forderte ihn auf, von weiteren illegalen Aktivitäten Abstand zu nehmen.
B1 noun dɪˈfens

defense

Verteidigung
Meaning
The action of defending from or resisting attack; protection from harm or danger.
Example
Defense was one of the central subjects.
Verteidigung war eines der zentralen Themen.
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.
B2 noun /ˈden.sə.ti/

Density

Dichte
Meaning
the degree of compactness of a substance; the quantity of something per unit area
Example
The density of population in the city center is extremely high.
Die Bevölkerungsdichte im Stadtzentrum ist extrem hoch.
B2 adjective /ˈded.li/

Deadly

tödlich; tödlich; gefährlich
Meaning
causing or able to cause death; extremely dangerous; lethal
Example
The deadly poison killed the plant instantly.
Das tödliche Gift tötete die Pflanze sofort.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪ.ner.i/

Disciplinary

disziplinarisch
Meaning
relating to discipline; intended to correct behavior
Example
The company took disciplinary action against the employee.
Das Unternehmen ergriff disziplinarische Maßnahmen gegen den Mitarbeiter.
B2 verb /draʊn/

drown

ertrinken
Meaning
to die or cause to die by being submerged in and inhaling water
Example
He nearly drowned while swimming in the river.
Er ertrank fast, als er im Fluss schwamm.
B2 noun /dwɔːrf/

dwarf

Zwerg
Meaning
a person, animal, or plant much smaller than average
Example
Snow White lived with seven dwarfs.
Schneewittchen lebte mit sieben Zwergen.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɔːrtmənt/

deportment

Benehmen
Meaning
A person's behavior or manners, especially in a formal situation.
Example
Her deportment during the ceremony impressed everyone.
Ihr Benehmen während der Zeremonie beeindruckte alle.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪsənənt/

dissonant

dissonant
Meaning
Harsh and lacking harmony; conflicting.
Example
The orchestra produced a dissonant sound during rehearsal.
Das Orchester erzeugte während der Probe einen dissonanten Klang.
C2 noun /dɜːrdʒ/

dirge

Klagelied
Meaning
A mournful song, piece of music, or poem expressing grief, often for the dead.
Example
The choir sang a solemn dirge at the funeral.
Der Chor sang ein feierliches Klagelied bei der Beerdigung.
B2 adverb /drəˈmætɪkli/

dramatically

dramatisch
Meaning
in a sudden, striking, or exaggerated way
Example
Sales increased dramatically after the campaign.
Der Umsatz stieg dramatisch nach der Kampagne.
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 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 /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.
A2 noun /ˈdɪfərəns/

difference

Unterschied
Meaning
A point or way in which things are not the same.
Example
There is a big difference between theory and practice.
Es gibt einen großen Unterschied zwischen Theorie und Praxis.
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.
C2 verb /dɪˈspɔɪl/

despoil

plündern
Meaning
To steal or violently remove valuable possessions from a place.
Example
The invaders despoiled the village during the war.
Die Angreifer plünderten das Dorf während des Krieges.
B2 noun dɪˈveləpɪŋ ˈriːdʒənz

developing regions

Entwicklungsregionen
Meaning
Areas or countries that are in the process of economic growth and development
Example
Pollution affects developing regions the most.
Verschmutzung betrifft am meisten Entwicklungsregionen.
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 /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 /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 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.
B2 noun /ˈdɛnɪmz/

denims

Jeans aus Denim
Meaning
pants or clothes made from denim fabric, usually jeans
Example
He wore blue denims with a white shirt.
Er trug blaue Jeans mit einem weißen Hemd.
C2 noun /ˈdʌlərd/

dullard

Dummkopf
Meaning
a slow or stupid person
Example
He was considered a dullard by his classmates.
Er wurde von seinen Klassenkameraden als Dummkopf betrachtet.
B1 noun /dɪsk/

disk

Disk / Datenspeichergerät
Meaning
a flat, circular object, often used to store data electronically
Example
All the data is saved on a hard disk.
Alle Daten werden auf einer Festplatte gespeichert.
C1 adjective /ˈdestatəʊt/

Destitute

mittellos; arm; ohne Geld oder Besitz
Meaning
extremely poor; without money or possessions
Example
Many families became destitute after the economic collapse.
Viele Familien wurden nach dem wirtschaftlichen Zusammenbruch mittellos.
B2 adjective /ˈdjʊərəbəl/

Durable

haltbar; widerstandsfähig; robust
Meaning
able to withstand wear, pressure, or damage; lasting; strong
Example
This durable fabric will last for many years.
Dieser haltbare Stoff wird viele Jahre halten.
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.
B2 noun /diːp ˈkʌlər/

Deep colour

tiefe Farbe
Meaning
a rich, intense, or dark shade of any color
Example
The artist used deep colours to create a dramatic effect.
Der Künstler benutzte tiefe Farben, um einen dramatischen Effekt zu erzeugen.
C2 noun /daɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/

divestiture

Desinvestition
Meaning
the action of selling off or disposing of business interests or assets
Example
The divestiture of the subsidiary was completed last year.
Die Desinvestition der Tochtergesellschaft wurde im letzten Jahr abgeschlossen.
B2 verb /dɪˈnaʊns/

denounce

verurteilen
Meaning
To publicly declare something to be wrong, evil, or condemn strongly.
Example
The leader denounced corruption in his speech.
Der Führer verurteilte die Korruption in seiner Rede.
C2 verb /dɪsˈpɔːrt/

disport

sich vergnügen
Meaning
To amuse oneself in a lively or playful way.
Example
The children disported themselves in the garden.
Die Kinder haben sich im Garten vergnügt.
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 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.
B2 noun /ˈdɛpjʊti/

deputy

Stellvertreter
Meaning
A person appointed as a substitute with power to act.
Example
The deputy will lead the meeting in the manager’s absence.
Der Stellvertreter wird das Meeting in der Abwesenheit des Managers leiten.
B1 noun, verb /dɪˈzaɪər/

desire

Wunsch
Meaning
a strong feeling of wanting something or wishing for something to happen
Example
He has a strong desire to travel the world.
Er hat den starken Wunsch, die Welt zu bereisen.
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.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/

dissipation

Verschwendung
Meaning
the process of disappearing or wasting; excessive indulgence in pleasure
Example
The dissipation of his fortune left him in poverty.
Die Verschwendung seines Vermögens brachte ihn in Armut.
B1 noun /ˈdez.ət/

Desert

Wüste
Meaning
a barren area of landscape with little precipitation; an arid region with sparse vegetation
Example
The Sahara Desert is one of the largest hot deserts in the world.
Die Sahara-Wüste ist eine der größten heißen Wüsten der Welt.
B2 verb /dɪsˈtɜːb/

disturb

stören
Meaning
to interrupt or cause someone to stop what they are doing
Example
Please don’t disturb me while I’m studying.
Bitte störe mich nicht, während ich lerne.
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.
C2 noun /dəˈɡerəˌtaɪp/

daguerreotype

alte Fotografie
Meaning
An early type of photograph produced on a silver or silver-covered copper plate.
Example
The museum displayed a rare daguerreotype of Abraham Lincoln.
Das Museum zeigte ein seltenes Daguerreotyp von Abraham Lincoln.
B1 noun /dɪˈzɜːrts/ (noun: reward or punishment deserved)

deserts

was jemand verdient, besonders Strafe oder Belohnung
Meaning
what someone deserves, especially punishment or reward
Example
He finally got his just deserts for cheating in the exam.
Er hat schließlich seine verdiente Strafe für das Schummeln in der Prüfung bekommen.
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.
B1 noun dɪˈmɒk.rə.si

democracy

Demokratie
Meaning
A system of government by the whole population or all the eligible members of a state, typically through elected representatives.
Example
Democracy ensures equal rights for all citizens.
Demokratie gewährleistet gleiche Rechte für alle Bürger.
C2 noun /ˈdiːɪst/

deist

Deist
Meaning
a person who believes in the existence of a supreme being but rejects organized religion
Example
The philosopher identified himself as a deist.
Der Philosoph identifizierte sich als Deist.
B2 noun ˌdiː.fɒr.ɪˈsteɪ.ʃən

deforestation

Abholzung
Meaning
The action of clearing a wide area of trees; the permanent destruction of forests in order to make the land available for other uses.
Example
Deforestation accelerates the loss of biodiversity.
Abholzung beschleunigt den Verlust der biologischen Vielfalt.
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.
A2 adjective /dʌtʃ/

dutch

niederländisch
Meaning
relating to the Netherlands, its people, or their language
Example
She enjoys Dutch paintings from the 17th century.
Sie genießt niederländische Gemälde aus dem 17. Jahrhundert.
A2 verb /dɪsˈkʌvər/

discover

entdecken
Meaning
to find something for the first time
Example
Scientists discovered a new planet last year.
Wissenschaftler entdeckten letzten Jahr einen neuen Planeten.
C2 noun /daɪˈɡrɛʃən/

digression

Abschweifung
Meaning
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
Her story was full of interesting digressions.
Ihre Geschichte war voller interessanter Abschweifungen.
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 /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.
B2 noun /ˌdel.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

delegation

Delegation
Meaning
A group of people chosen to represent others in negotiations or discussions.
Example
The delegation presented their country's agenda.
Die Delegation präsentierte die Agenda ihres Landes.
B2 adverb /ˈden.sli/

densely

dicht
Meaning
In a closely compacted or crowded manner.
Example
The area is densely covered with trees.
Das Gebiet ist dicht mit Bäumen bedeckt.
A2 noun /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/

department

abteilung
Meaning
a division of a large organization such as a government, university, or company
Example
She works in the marketing department.
Sie arbeitet in der Marketingabteilung.
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.
B2 noun /ˈdiːtʊr/

detour

Umweg
Meaning
A longer or less direct route taken to avoid something or reach a destination.
Example
We had to take a detour because the main road was closed.
Wir mussten einen Umweg nehmen, weil die Hauptstraße gesperrt war.
B1 verb /dɪɡ/

dig

graben
Meaning
to break up and move earth with a tool or machine, or with hands, paws, etc.
Example
They decided to dig a hole for the new tree.
Sie entschieden sich, ein Loch für den neuen Baum zu graben.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌlɔːɡ/

decalogue

Dekalog
Meaning
The Ten Commandments in the Bible; a set of fundamental rules or principles.
Example
The priest gave a sermon on the importance of the Decalogue.
Der Priester hielt eine Predigt über die Bedeutung des Dekaloges.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɔːtʃ/

debauch

verderben
Meaning
to corrupt morally; to lead into excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures
Example
The novel shows how wealth can debauch a person's character.
Der Roman zeigt, wie Reichtum den Charakter einer Person verderben kann.
A2 noun /dʌk/

Duck

Ente
Meaning
a waterbird with webbed feet and a broad flat bill
Example
The duck swam gracefully across the lake.
Die Ente schwamm anmutig über den See.
B1 verb /dɪˈklɛər/

declare

erklären
Meaning
To announce something formally or officially.
Example
The government declared a state of emergency.
Die Regierung erklärte den Notstand.
B2 verb /dɪˈspoʊz/

dispose

entsorgen
Meaning
To get rid of something, or to arrange or incline towards something.
Example
He disposed of the old furniture responsibly.
Er entsorgte die alten Möbel verantwortungsbewusst.
B2 noun /dɪˈpləʊməsi/

diplomacy

Diplomatie
Meaning
The profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations or handling affairs tactfully.
Example
Effective diplomacy helped avoid the conflict.
Effektive Diplomatie half dabei, den Konflikt zu vermeiden.
B2 verb /dɪˈpɪkt/

depict

darstellen
Meaning
to represent or show something in a picture, story, or other art form
Example
The painting depicts a beautiful sunset over the sea.
Das Gemälde stellt einen schönen Sonnenuntergang über dem Meer dar.
B2 adjective /ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/

devastating

verheerend
Meaning
causing severe shock, distress, or destruction; extremely damaging or upsetting
Example
The earthquake had a devastating effect on the city.
Das Erdbeben hatte eine verheerende Auswirkung auf die Stadt.
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 /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 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.
A2 noun /ˈdjuː.ti/

Duty

Pflicht
Meaning
something that one is expected or required to do; moral or legal obligation
Example
It is our duty as citizens to vote in elections.
Es ist unsere Pflicht als Bürger, bei Wahlen abzustimmen.
C2 verb /ˈdʌmfaʊnd/

dumbfound

sprachlos machen
Meaning
to greatly astonish or shock someone so they are temporarily speechless
Example
The magician's trick dumbfounded the audience.
Der Trick des Magiers brachte das Publikum zum Staunen.
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 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.
B2 noun /ˈdʌbəl ˈdekər/

Double decker

Doppeldeckerbus
Meaning
a bus with two levels or floors for passengers
Example
The red double decker bus is a famous symbol of London.
Der rote Doppeldeckerbus ist ein berühmtes Symbol von London.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡɒn/

decagon

Dekagon
Meaning
A polygon with ten sides and ten angles.
Example
The geometry teacher drew a perfect decagon on the board.
Der Mathematiklehrer zeichnete ein perfektes Dekagon auf die Tafel.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛbəˈnɛr/

debonair

charmant
Meaning
confident, stylish, and charming, typically referring to a man
Example
He looked debonair in his tuxedo at the gala.
Er sah charmant in seinem Smoking bei der Gala aus.
B2 noun /djʊˈreɪʃən/

duration

Dauer
Meaning
the length of time that something continues
Example
The meeting lasted for the duration of two hours.
Das Meeting dauerte zwei Stunden.
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.
B2 adjective /ˈdespərət/

Desperate

verzweifelt
Meaning
reckless; extremely urgent; critical
Example
The situation became desperate as water supplies ran out.
Die Situation wurde verzweifelt, als die Wasserversorgung aufgebraucht war.
B2 verb /ˈdɛzɪɡneɪt/

designate

bestimmen
Meaning
to officially assign, appoint, or indicate something or someone
Example
The committee will designate a new chairperson next week.
Der Ausschuss wird nächste Woche einen neuen Vorsitzenden bestimmen.
C2 noun dɪsˈbɜːs.mənt

disbursement

Auszahlung
Meaning
The payment of money from a fund.
Example
The company's disbursement of salaries was delayed.
Die Auszahlung der Gehälter des Unternehmens war verzögert.
B2 adverb /ˈdɪmli/

dimly

schwach
Meaning
in a faint or unclear way; with little light
Example
The room was dimly lit by a single candle.
Der Raum war schwach von einer einzigen Kerze beleuchtet.
C2 verb /dɪˈspɒnd/

despond

entmutigen
Meaning
to lose confidence or hope; to become dejected
Example
After repeated failures, he began to despond.
Nach wiederholtem Scheitern begann er, sich zu entmutigen.
B2 adjective /dɪˈfɪnɪtɪv/

definitive

abschließend
Meaning
serving as a final or most authoritative form; conclusive and decisive
Example
The committee reached a definitive agreement on the policy.
Das Komitee erzielte eine endgültige Vereinbarung über die Politik.
B2 noun /ˈdɪpləmæt/

diplomat

Diplomat
Meaning
An official representing a country abroad; a person skilled in dealing with people tactfully.
Example
The diplomat negotiated a peace agreement.
Der Diplomat verhandelte ein Friedensabkommen.
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 /dɪˈbeɪst/

debased

herabgesetzt
Meaning
having lost quality, value, or moral character
Example
The debased currency lost the trust of the people.
Die herabgesetzte Währung verlor das Vertrauen der Menschen.
A1 adjective ˈdɪfɪkəlt

difficult

schwierig
Meaning
Needing much effort or skill to accomplish, deal with, or understand; hard.
Example
Managing urban challenges has become increasingly difficult.
Die Bewältigung städtischer Herausforderungen wird zunehmend schwierig.
B2 noun /ˈdiːmən/

demon

dämon
Meaning
an evil spirit or devil
Example
The story was about a demon who haunted the village.
Die Geschichte handelte von einem Dämon, der das Dorf heimsuchte.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɔːtʃəri/

debauchery

Völlerei
Meaning
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; corruption or vice
Example
The novel depicts the debauchery of the aristocrats in the city.
Der Roman beschreibt die Völlerei der Aristokraten in der Stadt.
B1 noun /ˈdaɪəɡræm/

diagram

Diagramm
Meaning
a simplified drawing that shows the structure, relationship, or process of something
Example
The teacher explained the system using a clear diagram.
Der Lehrer erklärte das System mithilfe eines klaren Diagramms.
C1 noun /ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/

detonation

Detonation
Meaning
The act of exploding or causing something to explode.
Example
The sudden detonation shook the entire building.
Die plötzliche Detonation erschütterte das ganze Gebäude.
C2 verb /dɪˈpreɪv/

deprave

verderben
Meaning
to corrupt morally; to make someone immoral or wicked
Example
The novel was criticized for attempting to deprave the minds of young readers.
Der Roman wurde kritisiert, weil er versuchte, die Gedanken der jungen Leser zu verderben.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

entvölkern
Meaning
To reduce the number of people living in a place.
Example
The war threatened to depopulate the once-thriving town.
Der Krieg drohte, die einst blühende Stadt zu entvölkern.
C2 noun /ˈdɛrɪk/

derrick

Bohrturm
Meaning
A framework or tower used for supporting a crane, especially for oil drilling or lifting heavy loads.
Example
The workers assembled a derrick at the oil drilling site.
Die Arbeiter haben einen Bohrturm auf der Ölbohrstelle montiert.
B2 noun daɪˈmen.ʃən

dimension

Dimension
Meaning
An aspect or feature of a situation, problem, or thing; a measurable extent.
Example
Renewable projects add a new dimension to urban planning.
Erneuerbare Projekte bringen eine neue Dimension in die Stadtplanung.