downcast
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 Anglais BN Bengali HI Hindi ES Espagnol FR Français DE Allemand RU Russe ZH Chinois JA Japonais
All Vocabulary Cards All Vocabularies
C1 adjective /ˈdaʊn.kæst/

downcast

abattu
Meaning
feeling sad, dejected, or with lowered eyes
Example
He looked downcast after hearing the bad news.
Il avait l'air abattu après avoir entendu la mauvaise nouvelle.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmɒtɪk/

demotic

relatif au langage populaire
Meaning
relating to ordinary people or everyday language
Example
The poet used demotic language to connect with common readers.
Le poète a utilisé un langage relatif au langage populaire pour se connecter avec les lecteurs ordinaires.
C1 verb /diːm/

deem

considérer, juger
Meaning
to regard or consider in a specified way
Example
The project was deemed a success by the board.
Le projet a été jugé un succès par le conseil.
C1 noun dɪˈspær.ə.ti

disparity

disparité
Meaning
A great difference or inequality.
Example
Disparity between countries must be reduced.
La disparité entre les pays doit être réduite.
B2 noun /diˈoʊ.dər.ənt/

Deodorant

déodorant
Meaning
a substance that removes or conceals unpleasant smells, especially bodily odors
Example
She applied deodorant before going to the gym to stay fresh during workout.
Elle a appliqué du déodorant avant d'aller à la salle de sport pour rester fraîche pendant l'entraînement.
B2 verb dɪˈspætʃt

dispatched

expédié
Meaning
To send off to a destination or for a purpose.
Example
A team was dispatched quickly.
Une équipe a été expédiée rapidement.
C2 adjective /ˈdɒdərɪŋ/

doddering

tremblant / faible
Meaning
Weak, shaky, or unsteady, especially due to old age.
Example
The doddering professor struggled to climb the stairs.
Le professeur doddering avait du mal à monter les escaliers.
B1 verb /dɪˈtɜːrmɪn/

determine

déterminer
Meaning
to decide; to find out exactly
Example
We must determine the cause of the problem.
Nous devons déterminer la cause du problème.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈsɪmɪlər/

dissimilar

différent
Meaning
Not alike; different.
Example
Though they are twins, their personalities are dissimilar.
Bien qu'ils soient jumeaux, leurs personnalités sont différentes.
B2 adjective /ˈdɛlɪkət/

delicate

délicat
Meaning
Easily broken or damaged; requiring careful handling.
Example
The vase is very delicate, so handle it with care.
Le vase est très délicat, alors manipulez-le avec soin.
C2 adjective /daɪˈæfənəs/

diaphanous

diaphane
Meaning
Light, delicate, and translucent.
Example
She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight.
Elle portait une robe diaphane qui scintillait sous la lumière du soleil.
A2 noun /ˈden.tɪst/

Dentist

dentiste
Meaning
a medical professional who treats teeth and oral health
Example
I need to visit the dentist for a regular checkup.
Je dois rendre visite au dentiste pour un contrôle régulier.
C1 verb /ˈdiːmɑːrˌkeɪt/

demarcate

délimiter
Meaning
to set the boundaries or limits of something
Example
The land was demarcated with fences to avoid disputes.
Le terrain a été délimité par des clôtures pour éviter les disputes.
B2 noun dɪˈplɔɪmənt

deployment

déploiement
Meaning
The action of bringing resources into effective action.
Example
The deployment of the new software was completed successfully.
Le déploiement du nouveau logiciel a été terminé avec succès.
B1 noun /ˈdɪstrɪkt/

district

district
Meaning
a specific area of a country, city, or town, often with official boundaries
Example
She lives in the northern district of the city.
Elle vit dans le district nord de la ville.
C1 verb /dɪˈpriːʃieɪt/

depreciate

déprécier
Meaning
to reduce in value over time
Example
Cars tend to depreciate quickly in their first few years.
Les voitures ont tendance à se déprécier rapidement dans leurs premières années.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛməˈnaɪəkəl/

demoniacal

démoniaque
Meaning
characteristic of or resembling a demon; wildly evil
Example
He gave a demoniacal laugh that terrified everyone.
Il a donné un rire démoniaque qui a terrifié tout le monde.
C2 noun /dɪˈsweɪʒən/

dissuasion

dissuasion
Meaning
The act of persuading someone not to take a course of action.
Example
Her dissuasion prevented him from making a bad investment.
Sa dissuasion l'a empêché de faire un mauvais investissement.
C1 noun /ˈdɪsənˌtɛri/

dysentery

maladie intestinale (diarrhée avec sang et mucus)
Meaning
An infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with blood and mucus.
Example
Many soldiers suffered from dysentery during the war.
Beaucoup de soldats ont souffert de dysenterie pendant la guerre.
C1 noun daɪˈkɒtəmi

dichotomy

dichotomie
Meaning
A division or contrast between two things that are or are represented as being opposed or entirely different.
Example
The dichotomy between tradition and modernity is often debated.
La dichotomie entre la tradition et la modernité est souvent débattue.
C1 noun /dɪˈsiːt/

Deceit

tromperie; fraude; mensonge
Meaning
the action or practice of deceiving someone by concealing or misrepresenting the truth
Example
His deceit was discovered when the truth about his qualifications came to light.
Sa tromperie a été découverte lorsque la vérité sur ses qualifications a été révélée.
C2 noun /ˈdʌblɪt/

doublet

doublet / veste ajustée
Meaning
a close-fitting jacket worn by men in the Renaissance; also, a pair of similar things
Example
The actor wore a velvet doublet for the Shakespearean play.
L'acteur a porté un doublet en velours pour la pièce de Shakespeare.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtɜːr/

disinter

désenterrer
Meaning
to dig up something buried, especially a body
Example
The archaeologists disinterred ancient remains from the site.
Les archéologues ont désenterré des restes anciens du site.
B1 verb /dɪˈfiːt/

Defeat

défaite
Meaning
to win a victory over; to overcome in battle or competition
Example
The army managed to defeat the enemy forces.
L'armée a réussi à vaincre les forces ennemies.
C1 adjective /ˈdeɪnti/

dainty

délicat et joli
Meaning
Delicately small, pretty, and often considered elegant.
Example
She wore a dainty necklace made of pearls.
Elle portait un collier délicat fait de perles.
C2 verb /ˈdɪðər/

dither

hésiter
Meaning
to be indecisive or unable to make a decision
Example
He dithered for hours before choosing a restaurant.
Il a hésité pendant des heures avant de choisir un restaurant.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɜːrs/

disburse

distribuer
Meaning
to pay out money, especially from a fund
Example
The organization will disburse the funds to the affected families.
L'organisation va distribuer les fonds aux familles affectées.
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.
C2 verb /ˌdɪspəˈzɛs/

dispossess

déposséder
Meaning
to deprive someone of land, property, or other possessions
Example
The new law threatened to dispossess many farmers of their land.
La nouvelle loi menaçait de déposséder de nombreux agriculteurs de leurs terres.
C1 adjective /dɪˈklærətɪv/

declarative

déclaratif
Meaning
relating to a statement that declares something; in grammar, a sentence that makes a statement
Example
A declarative sentence simply states a fact or opinion.
Une phrase déclarative énonce simplement un fait ou une opinion.
B2 adjective /daɪˈnæm.ɪk/

dynamic

dynamique
Meaning
Characterized by constant change, activity, or progress.
Example
Life flows in a dynamic stream.
La vie coule dans un courant dynamique.
C1 noun /daɪˈvɜː.ʃən/

Diversion

détournement
Meaning
the action of turning something aside from its course; an activity that diverts the mind
Example
The road closure forced a diversion through the countryside for all travelers.
La fermeture de la route a forcé un détour à travers la campagne pour tous les voyageurs.
C1 adjective /ˈdɔːr.mənt/

Dormant

inactif; dormant; temporairement suspendu; pas actuellement actif
Meaning
inactive; sleeping; temporarily suspended; not currently active
Example
The volcano has been dormant for over a century.
Le volcan est inactif depuis plus d'un siècle.
C2 adjective /ˌdeɪ.kɒlˈteɪ/

decollete

vêtement à décolleté profond
Meaning
of a woman's dress or top, cut low so as to reveal the neck and upper chest
Example
She wore a decollete gown to the party.
Elle portait une robe décolletée à la fête.
C2 adjective /ˈdæpər/

dapper

élégant et soigné
Meaning
Neat, stylish, and well-dressed in appearance.
Example
He looked very dapper in his new suit.
Il avait l'air très élégant dans son nouveau costume.
B2 adjective /dɪˈbeɪtəbl̩/

debatable

débatable
Meaning
open to discussion or doubt; not certain
Example
It is debatable whether the policy will work.
Il est débattable que la politique fonctionne.
C1 noun /dɪˈskrep.ən.si/

discrepancy

discrépance, différence, divergence
Meaning
A lack of compatibility or similarity between two or more facts.
Example
The audit revealed a discrepancy between the reported earnings and actual income.
L'audit a révélé une discrépance entre les bénéfices déclarés et les revenus réels.
A1 adjective /ˈdɪf.ər.ənt/

different

différent
Meaning
Not the same as another; distinct or unlike.
Example
Her opinion was completely different from mine.
Son opinion était complètement différente de la mienne.
C2 noun /dɪsˈkwaɪɪtjuːd/

disquietude

inquiétude
Meaning
A state of uneasiness, anxiety, or restlessness.
Example
His constant pacing showed his inner disquietude.
Ses pas incessants montraient son inquiétude intérieure.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɜːrnəl/

diurnal

diurne
Meaning
active during the day; occurring daily
Example
Most birds are diurnal creatures, active in daylight hours.
La plupart des oiseaux sont des créatures diurnes, actives pendant les heures de clarté.
B2 noun /dɪˌtɜː.mɪˈneɪ.ʃən/

determination

détermination
Meaning
Firmness of purpose; the quality of being determined; resolve.
Example
His determination to succeed was unwavering.
Sa détermination à réussir était inébranlable.
B2 noun /dʌv/

Dove

colombe
Meaning
a small, gentle bird with soft cooing sounds, often white and symbolizing peace
Example
The white dove flew peacefully across the blue sky.
La colombe blanche vola paisiblement à travers le ciel bleu.
C1 noun /dɪˈstɔːrʃən/

distortion

distorsion, déformation
Meaning
the action of twisting, changing, or misrepresenting the shape, sound, or truth of something
Example
There was a distortion in the radio signal.
Il y avait une distorsion dans le signal radio.
C2 noun /dæmˈneɪ.ʃən/

Damnation

damnation éternelle; destruction
Meaning
condemnation to eternal punishment in hell; something that causes ruin or failure
Example
The preacher spoke about salvation and damnation in his sermon.
Le prédicateur a parlé du salut et de la damnation dans son sermon.
C2 noun /dɪˈprævɪti/

depravity

dégrégation morale
Meaning
moral corruption; wickedness
Example
The film portrays the moral depravity of a corrupt society.
Le film dépeint la dégradation morale d'une société corrompue.
A1 noun /dres/

Dress

robe
Meaning
a piece of clothing for women or girls that covers the body and extends down over the legs
Example
She wore a beautiful blue dress to the party.
Elle portait une belle robe bleue à la fête.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

diabolique
Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
Le méchant a imaginé un plan diabolique.
A2 verb /dəˈrɛkt/ or /daɪˈrɛkt/

direct

diriger
Meaning
to manage or control the course of something; to give instructions
Example
She directed the team to complete the project on time.
Elle a dirigé l'équipe pour terminer le projet à temps.
C1 verb /dɪsˈbænd/

disband

dissoudre
Meaning
to break up and stop functioning as a group or organization
Example
The club decided to disband after twenty years of activity.
Le club a décidé de se dissoudre après vingt ans d'activité.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪətraɪb/

diatribe

diatribe
Meaning
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
Example
The politician launched a diatribe against his opponents.
Le politicien a lancé une diatribe contre ses opposants.
C2 verb /dɪˈkænt/

decant

décanter
Meaning
To pour liquid gently from one container into another, especially without disturbing the sediment.
Example
She carefully decanted the wine into a clean glass.
Elle a soigneusement versé le vin dans un verre propre.
C2 noun /ˌdeɪnuːˈmɒ̃/

denouement

dénouement
Meaning
The final resolution or conclusion of a story, drama, or complicated situation.
Example
The novel's denouement was both surprising and satisfying.
Le dénouement du roman était à la fois surprenant et satisfaisant.
C1 verb /dɪsˈmæntəl/

dismantle

démanteler
Meaning
to take apart; to remove or destroy the parts of
Example
Workers will dismantle the old bridge next month.
Les travailleurs démantèleront le vieux pont le mois prochain.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪəˌlɛkt/

dialect

dialecte
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.
Il parle un dialecte du bengali qui est courant dans les zones rurales.
C2 verb /diːˈmæɡnɪtaɪz/

demagnetize

démagnétiser
Meaning
To remove or reduce the magnetic properties of something.
Example
The technician demagnetized the old cassette tape.
Le technicien a démagnétisé la vieille cassette.
B1 adjective /drəˈmæt.ɪk/

Dramatic

dramatique; soudain et frappant; excitant et impressionnant
Meaning
relating to drama; sudden and striking; exciting and impressive
Example
The dramatic sunset painted the sky in brilliant colors.
Le coucher du soleil dramatique a peint le ciel de couleurs brillantes.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪs/

deface

défigurer
Meaning
to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it
Example
The vandals defaced the wall with graffiti.
Les vandales ont défiguré le mur avec des graffitis.
C1 verb /dɪˈɡreɪd/

degrade

dégrader
Meaning
To lower in dignity, quality, or value; to treat with disrespect or to deteriorate.
Example
Harsh words can degrade a person's confidence.
Les mots durs peuvent dégrader la confiance d'une personne.
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.
C2 adjective /dɪˈfjuːzəbl/

diffusible

diffusable
Meaning
able to spread or be spread through a medium
Example
Oxygen is diffusible through cell membranes.
L'oxygène est diffusible à travers les membranes cellulaires.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌktaɪl/

ductile

ductile
Meaning
capable of being stretched into a thin wire without breaking; easily influenced
Example
Gold is a very ductile metal.
L'or est un métal très ductile.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪt/

discombobulate

déstabiliser
Meaning
to confuse or disconcert; to upset the normal order
Example
The sudden question seemed to discombobulate him.
La question soudaine sembla le déstabiliser.
B2 adjective /dɪˈvɔːrst/

divorced

divorcé
Meaning
No longer married because the marriage has been legally dissolved.
Example
She has been divorced for five years.
Elle est divorcée depuis cinq ans.
B2 verb /doʊz/

doze

somnoler
Meaning
To sleep lightly for a short time.
Example
He dozed off while reading the book.
Il s'est endormi en lisant le livre.
B2 adjective /dɪˈstɪŋɡwɪʃt/

Distinguished

distingué; honoré; célèbre; ayant une apparence ou une attitude digne
Meaning
notable; honored; famous; having a dignified appearance or manner
Example
He is a distinguished professor at the university.
Il est un professeur distingué à l'université.
B2 noun /dɛk/

deck

pont / plateforme
Meaning
A flat surface or platform, often on a ship or building.
Example
We enjoyed the sunset from the upper deck of the ferry.
Nous avons profité du coucher du soleil depuis le pont supérieur du ferry.
A2 noun /ˈdjuː.ti/

Duty

devoir
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.
C'est notre devoir en tant que citoyens de voter lors des élections.
C1 noun /ˈdiːviəns/

deviance

déviance
Meaning
Behavior that differs from accepted social or moral standards.
Example
The book studies deviance in urban youth culture.
Le livre étudie la déviance dans la culture urbaine des jeunes.
C2 noun /dɪˈfoʊliənt/

defoliant

défoliant
Meaning
a chemical that causes leaves to drop from plants, often used in warfare or agriculture
Example
The army sprayed defoliant to clear the forest cover.
L'armée a pulvérisé un défoliant pour dégager le couvert forestier.
C2 verb /diːˈnæʃənəlaɪz/

denationalize

dénationaliser
Meaning
to transfer ownership from the government to private individuals or companies
Example
The government decided to denationalize the bank to encourage private investment.
Le gouvernement a décidé de dénationaliser la banque pour encourager les investissements privés.
C2 noun /draɪd roʊz ˈpɛtəlz/

Dried Rose Petals

pétales de rose séchés
Meaning
dehydrated petals from roses used for culinary and aromatic purposes
Example
The dessert was garnished with dried rose petals.
Le dessert a été garni de pétales de rose séchés.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɔːtʃəri/

debauchery

débauche
Meaning
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; corruption or vice
Example
The novel depicts the debauchery of the aristocrats in the city.
Le roman dépeint la débauche des aristocrates dans la ville.
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.
B2 verb /ˈdɛdɪkeɪt/

dedicate

dédier
Meaning
to devote time, effort, or oneself to a particular purpose or person
Example
She dedicated her life to helping the poor.
Elle a dédié sa vie à aider les pauvres.
B1 verb /dɪˈklɛər/

declare

déclarer
Meaning
To announce something formally or officially.
Example
The government declared a state of emergency.
Le gouvernement a déclaré l'état d'urgence.
C2 noun /dɪˈstɛnʃən/

distention

distension
Meaning
The state of being swollen due to internal pressure.
Example
The patient complained of abdominal pain and distention.
Le patient s'est plaint de douleurs abdominales et de distension.
B2 noun /dɪˈpləʊ.mə/

diploma

diplôme
Meaning
an official document showing that a person has completed a course of study or training
Example
She received her diploma after finishing the nursing program.
Elle a reçu son diplôme après avoir terminé le programme de soins infirmiers.
C2 noun /dɛnˈdrɒlədʒi/

dendrology

dendrologie
Meaning
the scientific study of trees and woody plants
Example
He is studying dendrology at the university.
Il étudie la dendrologie à l'université.
B2 noun /ˈdraɪv.weɪ/

driveway

allée privée
Meaning
a short private road leading from a street to a house or garage
Example
The car was parked in the driveway next to the garden.
La voiture était garée dans l'allée privée près du jardin.
A2 verb, noun /dɪsˈlaɪk/

dislike

ne pas aimer
Meaning
to feel distaste or aversion for someone or something; a feeling of aversion
Example
I really dislike eating spicy food.
Je déteste vraiment manger des aliments épicés.
C1 verb diːˈsɛn.sɪ.taɪz

desensitize

désensibiliser
Meaning
To make someone less sensitive or reactive to something through repeated exposure.
Example
Constant exposure to violence can desensitize people.
Une exposition constante à la violence peut désensibiliser les gens.
A2 verb, noun /drɒp/

drop

laisser tomber / goutte
Meaning
to let something fall; a small quantity of liquid
Example
Be careful not to drop your phone.
Faites attention à ne pas faire tomber votre téléphone.
B2 noun /ˈdɛltə/

delta

delta
Meaning
A landform at the mouth of a river where it splits into several outlets.
Example
The Nile Delta is one of the most fertile regions in Egypt.
Le delta du Nil est l'une des régions les plus fertiles d'Égypte.
B1 noun /dɪˈfens/

Defence

défense; protection
Meaning
the action of defending from or resisting attack; protection or support
Example
The country strengthened its defence system against potential threats.
Le pays a renforcé son système de défense contre les menaces potentielles.
B2 noun /dɪsˈkʌmfərt/

discomfort

inconfort
Meaning
A feeling of slight pain, unease, or awkwardness.
Example
She shifted in her chair due to discomfort in her back.
Elle s'est déplacée dans sa chaise en raison de l'inconfort dans son dos.
C2 noun /ˈdɛntɪfrɪs/

dentifrice

dentifrice
Meaning
a substance such as powder, paste, or liquid used to clean teeth
Example
He bought a new herbal dentifrice from the pharmacy.
Il a acheté un nouveau dentifrice à base de plantes à la pharmacie.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɒsɪsən/

diocesan

relatif à un diocèse
Meaning
relating to a diocese or the district under the supervision of a bishop in the Christian Church
Example
The diocesan council met to discuss church affairs.
Le conseil diocésain s'est réuni pour discuter des affaires de l'église.
B2 adjective /ˌdɪsəˈɡriːəbl/

disagreeable

désagréable
Meaning
Unpleasant or offensive; causing discomfort or annoyance.
Example
The weather was cold and disagreeable.
Le temps était froid et désagréable.
A2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈɡriː/

disagree

être en désaccord
Meaning
to have a different opinion; to not agree
Example
I disagree with your assessment of the situation.
Je ne suis pas d'accord avec votre évaluation de la situation.
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.
A1 noun/verb /deɪt/

date

date/rendez-vous
Meaning
A particular day of the month or year; also, a social or romantic appointment.
Example
They decided to meet on the date of her birthday.
Ils ont décidé de se rencontrer à la date de son anniversaire.
C1 noun /dɪˈmaɪz/

demise

décès / fin
Meaning
Death or end of something, especially the end of an institution or system.
Example
The sudden demise of the company shocked investors.
La chute soudaine de l'entreprise a choqué les investisseurs.
A2 verb /dɪˈskraɪb/

describe

décrire
Meaning
to give an account of something in words, including details
Example
She described the scene vividly.
Elle a décrit la scène de manière vivante.
B2 noun /daɪˈmen.ʃənz/

dimensions

dimensions
Meaning
Aspects or features of a situation, problem, or thing.
Example
New dimensions of space exploration are being uncovered.
De nouvelles dimensions de l'exploration spatiale sont en train d'être découvertes.
C2 adjective /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/

duplicitous

fourbe
Meaning
Deceitful; deliberately deceptive or dishonest.
Example
The politician was criticized for his duplicitous statements.
Le politicien a été critiqué pour ses déclarations trompeuses.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

manque de confiance en soi
Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
Son manque de confiance en elle rendait difficile de parler en public.
C1 noun ˈdɛf.ər.əns

deference

déférence
Meaning
Humble submission and respect.
Example
He showed deference to his elderly mentor.
Il a montré de la déférence envers son mentor âgé.
B1 adjective /dɪsˈɒnəst/

Dishonest

malhonnête; frauduleux; trompeur
Meaning
not honest; fraudulent; deceitful
Example
The dishonest salesman tried to sell them a broken car.
Le vendeur malhonnête a essayé de leur vendre une voiture cassée.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

divagation
Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
Sa conférence était pleine de divagations, ce qui rendait difficile de suivre le point principal.
C1 adjective dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri

discriminatory

discriminatoire
Meaning
Making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things.
Example
Discriminatory policies triggered protests.
Les politiques discriminatoires ont déclenché des protestations.
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 verb /dɔːnt/

daunt

décourager
Meaning
to make someone feel intimidated, discouraged, or less confident
Example
The steep climb did not daunt the experienced hikers.
La montée abrupte n'a pas découragé les randonneurs expérimentés.
A1 noun /ˈdɔː.tər/

Daughter

fille
Meaning
a female offspring; a young woman in relation to her parents
Example
Their daughter graduated from medical school with top honors.
Leur fille a obtenu son diplôme de l'école de médecine avec les honneurs.
B2 verb /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃieɪt/

differentiate

différencier
Meaning
To recognize or make a distinction between things.
Example
It is important to differentiate between fact and opinion.
Il est important de différencier les faits des opinions.
B2 verb /ˈdɑːrkən/

darken

assombrir
Meaning
to make or become dark; to reduce brightness or light
Example
The clouds began to darken the sky before the storm.
Les nuages ont commencé à assombrir le ciel avant la tempête.
C1 noun /ˌdɛrɪˈveɪʃən/

derivation

dérivation
Meaning
The origin or development of something from a source.
Example
The derivation of the word comes from Latin.
La dérivation du mot vient du latin.
B2 adjective /ˈdespərət/

Desperate

désespéré
Meaning
reckless; extremely urgent; critical
Example
The situation became desperate as water supplies ran out.
La situation est devenue désespérée lorsque les réserves d'eau se sont épuisées.
A2 verb /der/

dare

oser
Meaning
to have courage to do something; to challenge someone
Example
I dare you to jump into the pool.
Je te défie de sauter dans la piscine.
C2 verb /dɪˈskraɪ/

descry

apercevoir au loin
Meaning
to catch sight of something, especially something distant or obscure
Example
From the hilltop, they descried a small village in the distance.
Depuis le sommet de la colline, ils ont aperçu un petit village au loin.
C1 noun /ˈdræm.ə.tɪst/

dramatist

dramaturge
Meaning
a person who writes plays
Example
Shakespeare is one of the greatest dramatists in history.
Shakespeare est l'un des plus grands dramaturges de l'histoire.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪsəˈfɛktɪd/

disaffected

mécontent
Meaning
Dissatisfied and rebellious, especially against authority or leadership.
Example
The reforms were introduced to calm the disaffected youth.
Les réformes ont été introduites pour calmer la jeunesse mécontente.
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.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskənˈtɪnjʊəns/

discontinuance

discontinuité
Meaning
the act of stopping something, especially permanently
Example
The discontinuance of the service disappointed many customers.
L'interruption du service a déçu de nombreux clients.
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 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.
B2 noun /ˈdreɪ.nɪdʒ/

drainage

drainage
Meaning
the system or process by which water or other liquids are drained away
Example
Poor drainage caused flooding in the neighborhood.
Un mauvais drainage a causé des inondations dans le quartier.
C2 noun /ˈdrɪvəl/

drivel

bêtise
Meaning
silly or nonsensical talk
Example
The politician’s speech was full of meaningless drivel.
Le discours du politicien était plein de bêtises inutiles.
A2 noun /dɪˈpɑːrtmənt/

department

département
Meaning
a division of a large organization such as a government, university, or company
Example
She works in the marketing department.
Elle travaille dans le département marketing.
B2 noun /djuː/

Dew

rosée
Meaning
tiny drops of water that form on cool surfaces at night when atmospheric water vapour condenses
Example
The morning dew glistened on the grass.
La rosée du matin brillait sur l'herbe.
C2 noun /ˈdɪktəm/

dictum

dicton
Meaning
A formal pronouncement, authoritative statement, or maxim.
Example
The judge’s dictum clarified the principle of equality before the law.
Le dictum du juge a clarifié le principe de l'égalité devant la loi.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.kʌl.əˈreɪ.ʃən/

discoloration

décoloration
Meaning
The process of changing or losing color; fading.
Example
Sun exposure causes discoloration of fabrics.
L'exposition au soleil provoque la décoloration des tissus.