English Vocabulary Dictionary | Word Meanings, Definitions & Examples
The act of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth.
"His career was ruined by lies and deceit."
Deliberately misleading or dishonest.
"She gave a deceitful answer to hide the truth."
To cause someone to believe something that is not true.
"He tried to deceive his friends with a fake story."
to reduce speed; to slow down
"The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light."
the twelfth and last month of the year in the Gregorian calendar
"December is usually cold in many countries."
behavior that conforms to accepted standards of morality or respectability
"She showed great decency by helping the stranger in need."
conforming to standards of propriety, good taste, or morality
"He found a decent job after months of searching."
the transfer of authority from central to local government; distribution of power
"The decentralization of government services improved efficiency at the local level."
Controlled by several local offices or authorities rather than one single one.
"The decentralized system allowed for more control at local levels."
the action of deceiving someone; the state of being deceived
"The magician's deception amazed the audience with seemingly impossible tricks."
Giving an appearance or impression different from the truth; misleading.
"Appearances can be deceptive."
a unit used to measure the intensity of sound
"The noise level in the factory exceeded 90 decibels."
To make a choice or judgment about something.
"She decided to study abroad after graduation."
trees or plants that shed their leaves annually
"Maple trees are deciduous and lose their leaves in autumn."
A number system based on 10; a number expressed in the base-10 system.
"The number 0.75 is a decimal."
To destroy or kill a large proportion of something.
"The wildfire decimated the forest."
The act of destroying or killing a large proportion of something.
"The decimation of the city left thousands homeless."
To make sense of something difficult to read or understand; to decode.
"She managed to decipher the old handwritten letter."
A conclusion or choice made after consideration.
"She made a quick decision to accept the job offer."
the process of making decisions, especially important or business-related decisions
"The CEO's decision-making was crucial for the success of the company."
A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration; the action or process of deciding something.
"Making the right decisions in time was key to the project's success."
Having the ability to make decisions quickly and effectively; determining the outcome.
"Her decisive action saved the company from collapse."
The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
"His decisiveness during the crisis saved the company."
A flat surface or platform, often on a ship or building.
"We enjoyed the sunset from the upper deck of the ferry."
to speak aloud in a formal, passionate, or theatrical way
"The actor declaimed his lines with great intensity."
a formal speech delivered with rhetorical or dramatic effect
"Her declamation captivated the audience at the competition."
speaking in a loud, rhetorical, or dramatic way
"The politician’s declamatory style impressed some but irritated others."
a formal or explicit statement or announcement
"The president made a declaration of independence."
relating to a statement that declares something; in grammar, a sentence that makes a statement
"A declarative sentence simply states a fact or opinion."
To announce something formally or officially.
"The government declared a state of emergency."
To refuse politely or to decrease in strength, quality, or number.
"She declined the invitation to the party."
a downward slope of ground
"They carefully climbed down the declivity of the hill."
to convert a coded message into a readable form; to interpret meaning
"The software can decode the hidden message within seconds."
of a woman's dress or top, cut low so as to reveal the neck and upper chest
"She wore a decollete gown to the party."
the process of decaying or breaking down into simpler parts
"The decomposition of leaves enriches the soil."
To relax and recover from stress or pressure.
"Taking deep breaths helps to decompress after a stressful day."
to make something look more attractive by adding ornaments or color
"They decorated the hall with balloons and lights for the party."
the process or art of decorating something; ornamental items used to beautify
"The Christmas decoration transformed the ordinary room into a festive wonderland."
showing proper and polite behavior; marked by good taste
"The audience gave a decorous applause after the performance."
behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety
"The students maintained decorum during the ceremony."
characterized by propriety, good taste, and proper manners
"She maintained a decourous silence during the ceremony."
something or someone used to lure or mislead
"The hunters used a wooden duck as a decoy."
To become or make something smaller or fewer in number, amount, or degree.
"The population of the town has decreased over the years."
an official order or command, often by authority
"The king issued a decree banning hunting in the forest."
worn out or weakened by age or neglect
"The decrepit old house was on the verge of collapse."
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
"The once-great empire fell into decrepitude."
to publicly criticize or express strong disapproval of something
"Many activists decry the destruction of the rainforest."
The process of converting encrypted information back to its original form
"Decryption of sensitive files requires a secure key."
to devote time, effort, or oneself to a particular purpose or person
"She dedicated her life to helping the poor."
devoted to a cause, task, or purpose
"She is a dedicated teacher who goes above and beyond for her students."