discredit
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C1 verb, noun /dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

discredit

discréditer
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.
Le scandale a discrédité le politicien aux yeux du public.
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.
Elle a une disposition joyeuse malgré les difficultés.
C1 adjective /ˈdjuːtɪfəl/

Dutiful

dévoué; respectueux; obéissant
Meaning
conscientiously fulfilling one's duty; obedient; respectful
Example
She is a dutiful daughter who always helps her parents.
Elle est une fille dévouée qui aide toujours ses parents.
C1 noun dɪˌlɪb.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deliberation

délibération
Meaning
Long and careful consideration or discussion.
Example
The agreement was finalized after much deliberation.
L'accord a été finalisé après beaucoup de délibération.
C1 noun delˈteɪɪk ˈlændskeɪp

deltaic landscape

paysage deltaïque
Meaning
A geographical area formed by sediment deposits at the mouth of a river, creating a triangular land formation.
Example
Bangladesh has a unique deltaic landscape.
Le Bangladesh possède un paysage deltaïque unique.
C1 noun /ˈdɑːsieɪ/

dossier

dossier
Meaning
A collection of documents about a particular person, event, or subject.
Example
The lawyer presented a dossier of evidence to the court.
L'avocat a présenté un dossier de preuves au tribunal.
C1 verb /dɪˈstɪl/

distill

distiller
Meaning
To purify a liquid by heating and cooling; to extract the essential meaning or most important aspects.
Example
The factory distills water to make it safe for drinking.
L'usine distille de l'eau pour la rendre sûre à boire.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈkwaɪətɪŋ/

disquieting

inquiétant
Meaning
Causing worry, unease, or anxiety.
Example
The news report was deeply disquieting to the public.
Le rapport de nouvelles était profondément inquiétant pour le public.
C1 verb /dɪsˈsætɪsfaɪ/

dissatisfy

décevoir
Meaning
to fail to please or meet expectations; to make someone unhappy
Example
The poor service dissatisfies many customers.
Le mauvais service déçoit de nombreux clients.
C1 verb /dɪsˈlɒdʒ/

dislodge

déloger
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.
Les troupes ont délogé l'ennemi de la colline.
C1 adjective /dɪˈʃɛvəld/

disheveled

désordonné
Meaning
Untidy, messy, or in disorder, especially of hair or clothing.
Example
He arrived with disheveled hair and wrinkled clothes.
Il est arrivé avec des cheveux désordonnés et des vêtements froissés.
C1 noun /dɪˈfɛkʃən/

defection

défection
Meaning
The act of abandoning one’s country, cause, or group in favor of another.
Example
The politician’s defection shocked his supporters.
La défection du politicien a choqué ses partisans.
C1 noun /ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk ˈmaɪl.stəʊn/

diplomatic milestone

jalon diplomatique
Meaning
A significant achievement or important event in diplomatic relations.
Example
Hosting the summit was a diplomatic milestone.
L'organisation du sommet était un jalon diplomatique.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.li.ə/

Dahlia

dahlia
Meaning
a garden plant with brightly colored flowers that bloom in summer and autumn
Example
She planted colorful dahlias in her garden last summer.
Elle a planté des dahlias colorés dans son jardin l'été dernier.
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.
Le musée a exposé un diorama d'un village ancien.
C1 verb dɪˈlɪnieɪt

delineate

décrire de manière précise
Meaning
To describe or portray something precisely
Example
The artist delineated the scene in intricate detail.
L'artiste a délimité la scène avec des détails complexes.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.viˈeɪ.ʃən/

Deviation

déviation; éloignement d'une trajectoire établie
Meaning
the action of departing from an established course; a departure from usual standards
Example
Any deviation from the established procedure must be reported immediately.
Toute déviation de la procédure établie doit être signalée immédiatement.
C1 phrase ˌdɪp.ləˈmæt.ɪk rɛz.əˈluː.ʃən

diplomatic resolution

résolution diplomatique
Meaning
A peaceful solution to conflicts through negotiation and diplomatic channels.
Example
A diplomatic resolution is necessary for peace.
Une résolution diplomatique est nécessaire pour la paix.
C1 adjective /ˈdaɪ.si/

dicey

risqué
Meaning
Risky or unpredictable; potentially dangerous.
Example
Investing in that company looks pretty dicey right now.
Investir dans cette entreprise semble assez risqué en ce moment.
C1 noun /ˌdɛsɪˈmeɪʃən/

decimation

décimation
Meaning
The act of destroying or killing a large proportion of something.
Example
The decimation of the city left thousands homeless.
La décimation de la ville a laissé des milliers de sans-abri.
C1 verb /ˌdiː.kəmˈprɛs/

decompress

décompresser
Meaning
To relax and recover from stress or pressure.
Example
Taking deep breaths helps to decompress after a stressful day.
Prendre de grandes respirations aide à se décompresser après une journée stressante.
C1 noun /dɪˌnɒmɪˈneɪʃən/

denomination

dénomination, valeur
Meaning
a recognized autonomous branch of the Christian Church; a unit of value or currency
Example
The church belongs to a Protestant denomination.
L'église appartient à une dénomination protestante.
C1 noun /ˈdek.ə.dəns/

decadence

décadence
Meaning
Moral or cultural decline characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
Example
The novel describes the decadence of the wealthy elite.
Le roman décrit la décadence de l'élite riche.
C1 noun /ˈdrʌdʒəri/

drudgery

travail pénible et monotone
Meaning
Hard, menial, or dull work.
Example
She wanted to escape the drudgery of her daily routine.
Elle voulait échapper à la routine monotone de sa journée.
C1 noun ˌdɪs.æmˌbɪɡ.juˈeɪ.ʃən

disambiguation

désambiguïsation
Meaning
The removal of ambiguity by making something clear and unambiguous.
Example
The AI system applies disambiguation to refine text understanding.
Le système IA applique la disambiguation pour affiner la compréhension du texte.
C1 verb /dɪˈpɔːrt/

deport

déporter
Meaning
To expel a foreigner from a country, usually for legal or political reasons.
Example
The government decided to deport the illegal immigrants.
Le gouvernement a décidé de déporter les immigrés illégaux.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsiːtfəl/

deceitful

trompeur
Meaning
Deliberately misleading or dishonest.
Example
She gave a deceitful answer to hide the truth.
Elle a donné une réponse trompeuse pour cacher la vérité.
C1 noun /dɪˈfaɪəns/

defiance

défiance
Meaning
Open resistance or bold disobedience.
Example
The protest was an act of defiance against injustice.
La protestation était un acte de défiance contre l'injustice.
C1 noun dɪˌzɝː.t̬ə.fɪˈkeɪ.ʃən

desertification

désertification
Meaning
The process by which fertile land becomes desert, typically as a result of drought, deforestation, or inappropriate agriculture.
Example
Deforestation accelerates desertification.
La déforestation accélère la désertification.
C1 verb /dɪˈbɑːr/

debar

interdire
Meaning
To officially prevent someone from doing something.
Example
He was debarred from entering the competition due to cheating.
Il a été interdit d'entrer dans la compétition en raison de la triche.
C1 noun /ˌdiː.kɒmpəˈzɪʃən/

decomposition

décomposition
Meaning
the process of decaying or breaking down into simpler parts
Example
The decomposition of leaves enriches the soil.
La décomposition des feuilles enrichit le sol.
C1 noun dɪˈfleɪʃən

deflation

déflation
Meaning
Reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.
Example
Deflation often leads to decreased consumer spending.
La déflation entraîne souvent une diminution des dépenses des consommateurs.
C1 noun /djuːˈɛt/

duet

duo
Meaning
a musical performance by two singers or instrumentalists
Example
They sang a beautiful duet together on stage.
Ils ont chanté un magnifique duo ensemble sur scène.
C1 noun /ˈdɛljuːdʒ/

deluge

inondation
Meaning
A severe flood; an overwhelming quantity of something.
Example
The town was hit by a deluge of rain in just a few hours.
La ville a été frappée par un déluge de pluie en quelques heures seulement.
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.
L'enseignant a utilisé des méthodes spéciales pour aider l'élève atteint de dyslexie.
C1 noun/adjective /dɪˈtɜː.rənt/

deterrent

élément dissuasif
Meaning
A thing that discourages or is intended to discourage someone from doing something.
Example
A strict law serves as a deterrent to crime.
Une loi stricte sert d'élément dissuasif contre le crime.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪtəm/ or /ˈdætəm/

datum

donnée
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.
Chaque donnée dans l'enquête a été soigneusement analysée.
C1 verb /dɪˈspɛl/

dispel

dissiper
Meaning
to make a doubt, feeling, or belief disappear
Example
The teacher's explanation dispelled the students' confusion.
L'explication de l'enseignant a dissipé la confusion des élèves.
C1 verb /ˈdɛsɪmeɪt/

decimate

détruire
Meaning
To destroy or kill a large proportion of something.
Example
The wildfire decimated the forest.
L'incendie a ravagé la forêt.
C1 adjective ˈdɔːn.tɪŋ

daunting

intimidant ou difficile
Meaning
Something that seems intimidating or challenging.
Example
The task seemed daunting, but she completed it successfully.
La tâche semblait intimidante, mais elle l'a terminée avec succès.
C1 noun /dɪn/

din

bruit
Meaning
a loud, unpleasant, and prolonged noise
Example
The din of traffic outside made it hard to concentrate.
Le bruit de la circulation dehors rendait la concentration difficile.
C1 noun /dɪˈprɛsənt/

depressant

dépresseur
Meaning
A drug that reduces functional or nervous activity in the body.
Example
Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system.
L'alcool agit comme un dépresseur sur le système nerveux central.
C1 noun /ˈdɔːrˌkiːpər/

doorkeeper

portier
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.
Le doorkeeper a vérifié les passes de tous avant qu'ils n'entrent dans la salle.
C1 adjective /daɪər/

Dire

grave; urgent; terrible
Meaning
extremely serious; urgent; terrible
Example
The country is facing a dire economic crisis.
Le pays fait face à une grave crise économique.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪ.ner.i/

Disciplinary

disciplinaire
Meaning
relating to discipline; intended to correct behavior
Example
The company took disciplinary action against the employee.
L'entreprise a pris des mesures disciplinaires contre l'employé.
C1 adjective /ˈdwɪndlɪŋ/

dwindling

diminution
Meaning
Gradually reducing in number, size, or strength.
Example
The villagers relied on dwindling water supplies.
Les villageois dépendaient des réserves d'eau en diminution.
C1 noun /dɪˈkriː/

Decree

décret
Meaning
an official order issued by a legal authority; a judicial decision or edict
Example
The king issued a decree that all citizens must pay additional taxes.
Le roi a émis un décret stipulant que tous les citoyens doivent payer des taxes supplémentaires.
C1 noun dɛkˈstɛr.ɪ.ti

dexterity

dextérité
Meaning
Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands; mental skill or adroitness.
Example
His dexterity in playing the piano amazed the audience.
Sa dextérité à jouer du piano a étonné le public.
C1 verb /ˌdiːˈbʌŋk/

debunk

démystifier, exposer la fausseté de
Meaning
Expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief).
Example
Scientists debunked the myth that vaccines cause autism.
Les scientifiques ont démystifié le mythe selon lequel les vaccins causent l'autisme.
C1 noun /ˈdɛsɪˌbɛl/

decibel

décibel
Meaning
a unit used to measure the intensity of sound
Example
The noise level in the factory exceeded 90 decibels.
Le niveau de bruit dans l'usine a dépassé 90 décibels.
C1 noun /ˌdɜːrməˈtɑːlədʒi/

dermatology

dermatologie
Meaning
The branch of medicine concerned with the skin and its diseases.
Example
He studied dermatology at medical school.
Il a étudié la dermatologie à l'école de médecine.
C1 verb /deɪz/

daze

étourdir
Meaning
to stun or confuse someone temporarily with a shock or surprise
Example
The bright lights dazed the runners as they entered the stadium.
Les lumières vives ont étourdi les coureurs lorsqu'ils sont entrés dans le stade.
C1 verb /ˈdræm.ə.taɪz/

dramatize

dramatiser
Meaning
to present a story in a dramatic way, or to exaggerate something
Example
The novel was dramatized into a popular TV series.
Le roman a été dramatizé en une série télévisée populaire.
C1 noun ˌdɛməˈɡræfɪk trænˈzɪʃən

demographic transition

transition démographique
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.
La transition démographique indique un changement vers une société vieillissante.
C1 adjective /ˈdaʊ.ər/

dour

sévère
Meaning
relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance
Example
His dour expression made the meeting uncomfortable.
Son expression sévère rendait la réunion inconfortable.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪmˈbɑːrk/

disembark

débarquer
Meaning
To leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Example
The passengers disembarked from the plane after landing.
Les passagers sont descendus de l'avion après l'atterrissage.
C1 adjective /dræb/

drab

terne
Meaning
Dull, lacking brightness or interest; monotonous.
Example
The room looked drab with its gray walls and dim lighting.
La pièce semblait terne avec ses murs gris et son éclairage faible.
C1 noun /diːˌtɒksɪfɪˈkeɪʃən/

detoxification

détoxification
Meaning
The process of removing toxic substances from a living organism.
Example
Detoxification helps to cleanse the body of harmful substances.
La détoxification aide à nettoyer le corps des substances nuisibles.
C1 noun /daɪˈsɛkʃən/

dissection

dissection
Meaning
the act of cutting apart or analyzing something in detail, especially a body or structure
Example
The dissection of the specimen revealed important details about its structure.
La dissection de l'échantillon a révélé des détails importants sur sa structure.
C1 verb /dɪˈkraɪ/

decry

dénoncer
Meaning
to publicly criticize or express strong disapproval of something
Example
Many activists decry the destruction of the rainforest.
De nombreux activistes dénoncent la destruction de la forêt tropicale.
C1 noun /dɪˈvaɪzər/

divisor

diviseur
Meaning
A number by which another number is divided.
Example
In the equation 12 ÷ 3, the number 3 is the divisor.
Dans l'équation 12 ÷ 3, le nombre 3 est le diviseur.
C1 verb /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrt/

disconcert

déconcerter
Meaning
To unsettle, confuse, or disturb the composure of someone.
Example
The sudden change of plans disconcerted the team.
Le changement soudain de plans a déconcerté l'équipe.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfaɪənt/

Defiant

défiant; rebelle
Meaning
boldly resistant or challenging; disobedient
Example
The defiant student refused to follow the rules.
L'étudiant défiant a refusé de suivre les règles.
C1 noun dɪˌtɪə.ri.əˈreɪ.ʃən

deterioration

détérioration
Meaning
The process of becoming progressively worse; decline in quality, condition, or strength.
Example
Poor maintenance leads to material deterioration.
Un mauvais entretien conduit à la détérioration du matériel.
C1 verb /diːˈfɒrɪst/

deforest

déboiser
Meaning
to clear an area of trees, usually on a large scale
Example
The region has been heavily deforested for agriculture.
La région a été fortement déboisée pour l'agriculture.
C1 adjective ˌdet.rɪˈmen.təl

detrimental

détériorant
Meaning
Tending to cause harm; damaging or harmful.
Example
Pollution has detrimental effects on fertility.
La pollution a des effets nuisibles sur la fertilité.
C1 verb /druːp/

droop

pencher
Meaning
to bend or hang downward; to become weak or tired
Example
The flowers began to droop in the heat.
Les fleurs ont commencé à se pencher sous la chaleur.
C1 noun /draɪ fɪʃ/

Dry fish

poisson séché
Meaning
fish that has been preserved by drying in the sun or by other dehydration methods
Example
Dry fish is a popular preserved food in many coastal regions.
Le poisson séché est un aliment conservé populaire dans de nombreuses régions côtières.
C1 noun, verb /dɪsˈɑːnər/

dishonor

déshonneur
Meaning
a state of shame or loss of respect; to bring shame upon someone or something
Example
The soldier felt he had brought dishonor to his family.
Le soldat a senti qu'il avait apporté le déshonneur à sa famille.
C1 verb /dɪˈfaɪl/

defile

profaner
Meaning
to pollute, corrupt, or make dirty
Example
The river was defiled by industrial waste.
La rivière a été profanée par les déchets industriels.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪzməl/

Dismal

sombre; déprimant; triste
Meaning
gloomy; depressing; causing sadness or despair
Example
The weather was dismal with heavy rain and dark clouds.
Le temps était sombre avec de fortes pluies et des nuages sombres.
C1 adjective /dɪˈstrɔːt/

distraught

déstabilisé
Meaning
extremely upset and anxious, often to the point of being unable to think clearly
Example
She was distraught after losing her pet.
Elle était déstabilisée après avoir perdu son animal de compagnie.
C1 adjective /dɪˈbɪl.ɪ.teɪ.tɪŋ/

debilitating

affaiblissant
Meaning
Making someone or something weak and infirm.
Example
The disease had a debilitating effect on his health.
La maladie avait un effet affaiblissant sur sa santé.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪm/

defame

diffamer
Meaning
to harm someone's reputation by spreading false information
Example
He was defamed by malicious rumors.
Il a été diffamé par des rumeurs malveillantes.
C1 noun /ˈdel.ɪ.kə.si/

Delicacy

délicatesse; un plat délicat ou coûteux;
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.
Le chef a préparé une délicatesse locale qui était célèbre dans toute la région.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɪnjətɪv/

diminutive

minuscule
Meaning
extremely or unusually small
Example
Despite his diminutive size, he was a powerful leader.
Malgré sa taille minuscule, il était un leader puissant.
C1 verb /dɪˈfɔːrm/

deform

déformer
Meaning
to change the shape or form of something, especially in a way that makes it ugly or damaged; to distort
Example
The intense heat began to deform the plastic container.
La chaleur intense a commencé à déformer le récipient en plastique.
C1 noun ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən

degradation

dégradation
Meaning
The condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
Example
Soil degradation due to overuse is a growing issue.
La dégradation des sols due à une utilisation excessive est un problème croissant.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/

dilapidated

délabré
Meaning
Fallen into disrepair or ruin due to neglect or age.
Example
The family lived in a dilapidated house at the edge of town.
La famille vivait dans une maison délabrée au bord de la ville.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈrɛpjətəbl̩/

disreputable

discrédité
Meaning
having a bad reputation; not considered respectable or trustworthy
Example
The journalist avoided staying in the disreputable part of town.
Le journaliste a évité de séjourner dans le quartier discrédité de la ville.
C1 adjective /dɪˈmɛntɪd/

demented

dément / irrationnel
Meaning
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
Example
He looked demented after hearing the shocking news.
Il avait l'air dément après avoir entendu la nouvelle choquante.
C1 adjective /ˈdæʃ.ɪŋ/

Dashing

élégant; attrayant; audacieux;
Meaning
stylish and confident; lively and energetic; attractive and charming
Example
He looked dashing in his new suit.
Il avait l'air élégant dans son nouveau costume.
C1 adjective draʊt rɪˈzɪs.tənt

drought-resistant

résistant à la sécheresse
Meaning
Able to survive and grow despite limited water availability or drought conditions.
Example
Drought-resistant crops can survive in arid conditions.
Les cultures résistantes à la sécheresse peuvent survivre dans des conditions arides.
C1 adjective /ˈdɒdʒi/

Dodgy

suspect; douteux; peu fiable; risqué ou dangereux
Meaning
suspicious; questionable; unreliable; risky or dangerous
Example
That deal sounds dodgy to me.
Cet accord me semble suspect.
C1 noun /ˌdez.ɪɡˈneɪ.ʃən/

Designation

désignation; titre; poste; statut officiel
Meaning
the action of choosing someone for a position; a name, title, or official status
Example
His designation as team leader came with additional responsibilities and authority.
Sa désignation en tant que leader d'équipe s'accompagnait de responsabilités supplémentaires et d'autorité.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈreɪ/

disarray

désordre
Meaning
A state of disorganization or untidiness; confusion or disorder.
Example
His desk was in complete disarray.
Son bureau était dans un désordre complet.
C1 noun /ˈdrɪz.əl/

Drizzle

bruine
Meaning
light rain falling in very fine drops; a very light rainfall
Example
The gentle drizzle continued throughout the morning, making everything misty.
La douce bruine a continué tout au long de la matinée, rendant tout brumeux.
C1 noun /ˌdiːpɔːrˈteɪʃən/

deportation

déportation
Meaning
The act of expelling a foreigner from a country.
Example
The deportation of hundreds of workers sparked international criticism.
La déportation de centaines de travailleurs a suscité des critiques internationales.
C1 noun /ˌdɜːrməˈtɑːlədʒɪst/

dermatologist

dermatologue
Meaning
A doctor who specializes in the treatment of skin diseases.
Example
She consulted a dermatologist for her skin allergy.
Elle a consulté un dermatologue pour son allergie à la peau.
C1 verb ˈdwɪn.dl

dwindle

diminuer
Meaning
To diminish gradually in size, amount, or strength; to become progressively smaller.
Example
His savings dwindled due to unexpected expenses.
Ses économies ont diminué en raison de dépenses imprévues.
C1 noun /ˌdep.rɪˈveɪ.ʃən/

deprivation

privation, pénurie, manque
Meaning
The damaging lack of material benefits considered to be basic necessities in a society.
Example
Sleep deprivation affects cognitive function.
La privation de sommeil affecte la fonction cognitive.
C1 verb /daɪˈɡrɛs/

digress

s'écarter temporairement du sujet principal
Meaning
To leave the main subject temporarily in speech or writing.
Example
The professor began to digress from the main topic of the lecture.
Le professeur a commencé à digresser du sujet principal de la conférence.
C1 verb /ˈduːdəl/

doodle

gribouiller
Meaning
To draw or scribble absentmindedly, often while thinking about something else.
Example
She doodled flowers in the corner of her notebook during class.
Elle dessinait des fleurs dans le coin de son cahier pendant le cours.
C1 noun /djʊˈrɛs/

duress

contrainte
Meaning
threats, violence, or pressure used to force someone to do something
Example
She signed the contract under duress.
Elle a signé le contrat sous la contrainte.
C1 adjective /ˈdɑːsəl/ or /ˈdəʊsaɪl/

docile

docile
Meaning
easily managed, taught, or controlled; submissive
Example
The docile puppy quickly learned new tricks.
Le chiot docile a rapidement appris de nouveaux tours.
C1 verb /dɪˈteɪn/

detain

détenir
Meaning
to keep someone from proceeding; to hold back, especially by official authority
Example
The police detained the suspect for questioning.
La police a détenu le suspect pour l'interroger.
C1 noun ˌdiː.sen.trə.laɪˈzeɪ.ʃən

decentralization

décentralisation
Meaning
The transfer of authority from central to local government.
Example
Decentralization promotes regional autonomy.
La décentralisation favorise l'autonomie régionale.
C1 verb /daɪˈvɛst/

divest

désinvestir
Meaning
to strip away possessions, rights, or assets; to rid oneself of
Example
The company decided to divest its unprofitable division.
L'entreprise a décidé de se désinvestir de sa division non rentable.
C1 verb /dɪsˈoʊn/

disown

renier
Meaning
to refuse to acknowledge or accept responsibility for someone or something
Example
He decided to disown his reckless brother.
Il a décidé de renier son frère imprudent.
C1 noun /dɪˈspɜːrʒən/

dispersion

dispersion
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.
La dispersion des graines par le vent aide les plantes à se reproduire.
C1 verb ˈdiː.vi.eɪt

deviate

s'écarter
Meaning
To depart from an established course or normal pattern.
Example
He tends to deviate from the original plan.
Il a tendance à s'écarter du plan initial.
C1 noun ˌdaɪvɜːsɪfɪˈkeɪʃən

diversification

diversification
Meaning
The practice of spreading investments across various assets or sectors to reduce risk.
Example
Diversification helps to reduce investment risk.
La diversification aide à réduire le risque d'investissement.
C1 verb/adjective /dɪˈdʒɛnəreɪt/

degenerate

dégénérer
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.
L'empire autrefois prospère a commencé à dégénérer en chaos.
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.
La dynastie Ming a régné sur la Chine pendant des siècles.
C1 adjective dɪ ˈskrɛʃ.ən.er.i

discretionary

discrétionnaire
Meaning
Available for use at the discretion of the user; not required or mandatory.
Example
He set aside some discretionary income for travel.
Il a mis de côté un revenu discrétionnaire pour voyager.
C1 adjective /dɪˈplɔːrəbl/

deplorable

déplorable
Meaning
deserving strong condemnation; shockingly bad in quality
Example
The refugees were living in deplorable conditions.
Les réfugiés vivaient dans des conditions déplorables.
C1 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪkəl/

diabolical

diabolique
Meaning
Wicked, cruel, or outrageously bad; resembling the devil.
Example
The dictator’s diabolical rule brought misery to the nation.
Le régime diabolique du dictateur a apporté la misère à la nation.
C1 adjective ˈdɪs.pər.ət

disparate

disparate
Meaning
containing elements very different from one another.
Example
Their opinions were disparate, leading to debates.
Leurs opinions étaient disparates, ce qui a conduit à des débats.
C1 noun /ˌdɪsəˈluːʃən/

dissolution

dissolution
Meaning
the act of formally ending or breaking apart something, such as an organization or marriage
Example
The dissolution of the company was announced yesterday.
La dissolution de l'entreprise a été annoncée hier.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛləˌreɪt/

decelerate

ralentir
Meaning
to reduce speed; to slow down
Example
The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light.
La voiture a commencé à ralentir à l'approche du feu de circulation.
C1 verb /dɪsˈtrʌst/

distrust

se méfier
Meaning
to have no confidence or trust in someone or something
Example
Many people distrust politicians.
Beaucoup de gens se méfient des politiciens.
C1 adjective, noun /ˈdɛrəlɪkt/

derelict

abandonné
Meaning
in poor condition due to neglect or disuse; a homeless or neglected person
Example
The old factory stood derelict for decades.
L'ancienne usine est restée abandonnée pendant des décennies.
C1 verb /dɪˈsɛnt/

dissent

désapprouver
Meaning
To hold or express opinions that are different from those officially accepted.
Example
Several members dissented from the majority decision.
Plusieurs membres ont exprimé un désaccord avec la décision majoritaire.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈhɑːrtənd/

Disheartened

démoralisé
Meaning
discouraged; feeling dejected; losing hope or confidence
Example
She felt disheartened after failing the exam twice.
Elle s'est sentie démoralisée après avoir échoué à l'examen deux fois.
C1 noun /dɪˌnʌnsiˈeɪʃən/

denunciation

dénonciation / accusation publique
Meaning
the public condemnation or accusation of someone or something
Example
The journalist's article was a strong denunciation of corruption.
L'article du journaliste était une forte dénonciation de la corruption.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃəl/

differential

différentiel
Meaning
Relating to or showing a difference; involving a distinction.
Example
There is a differential treatment between the two groups.
Il existe un traitement différentiel entre les deux groupes.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/

disinterested

désintéressé
Meaning
not influenced by personal interest; impartial or neutral
Example
The judge remained disinterested in the case.
Le juge est resté désintéressé dans l'affaire.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪktəˈtɔːriəl/

dictatorial

dictatorial
Meaning
Having or showing a tendency to tell people what to do in an autocratic way.
Example
His dictatorial style made him unpopular among colleagues.
Son style dictatorial le rendait impopulaire parmi ses collègues.
C1 noun/verb /dɪsˈdeɪn/

disdain

mépris
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.
Elle regarda la chambre en désordre avec du mépris.
C1 verb /daɪˈleɪt/

dilate

dilater
Meaning
To make wider, larger, or more open.
Example
The doctor used drops to dilate the patient's pupils.
Le médecin a utilisé des gouttes pour dilater les pupilles du patient.
C1 noun dɪˈpliː.ʃən

depletion

épuisement
Meaning
The gradual reduction or exhaustion of a resource or substance.
Example
Overuse of groundwater leads to depletion of water resources.
Une utilisation excessive de l'eau souterraine entraîne l'épuisement des ressources en eau.