CEFR Level
causing serious weakness or incapacity
"He suffers from a debilitating disease."
To expose the falseness or exaggeration of a claim, myth, or belief.
"The scientist worked to debunk the myths about vaccines."
Moral or cultural decline characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
"The novel describes the decadence of the wealthy elite."
Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline; excessively self-indulgent.
"The party was filled with decadent luxury and excess."
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 reduce speed; to slow down
"The car began to decelerate as it approached the traffic light."
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."
a unit used to measure the intensity of sound
"The noise level in the factory exceeded 90 decibels."
trees or plants that shed their leaves annually
"Maple trees are deciduous and lose their leaves in autumn."
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."
The ability to make decisions quickly and effectively.
"His decisiveness during the crisis saved the company."
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 convert a coded message into a readable form; to interpret meaning
"The software can decode the hidden message within seconds."
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."
behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety
"The students maintained decorum during the ceremony."
something or someone used to lure or mislead
"The hunters used a wooden duck as a decoy."
an official order or command, often by authority
"The king issued a decree banning hunting in the forest."
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 reach a conclusion by reasoning or inference
"From the evidence, the detective deduced that the suspect was lying."
to regard or consider in a specified way
"The project was deemed a success by the board."
to spoil the surface or appearance of something, especially by writing or drawing on it
"The vandals defaced the wall with graffiti."
the act of damaging someone's reputation by making false statements
"The newspaper was sued for defamation of character."
to harm someone's reputation by spreading false information
"He was defamed by malicious rumors."
A person who expects or is excessively ready to accept failure; showing a tendency to expect defeat.
"His defeatist attitude discouraged the rest of the team."
The act of abandoning one’s country, cause, or group in favor of another.
"The politician’s defection shocked his supporters."
An individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law.
"The defendant pleaded not guilty to the charges."
Capable of being protected against attack or criticism; justifiable.
"Her decision was legally defensible."
Polite submission or respect for someone else's opinion or judgment.
"She showed great deference to her elders."
Open resistance or bold disobedience.
"The protest was an act of defiance against injustice."
showing open resistance or bold disobedience
"The child was defiant when told to clean his room."
a lack or shortage of something that is necessary
"The doctor diagnosed him with a vitamin D deficiency."
not having enough of something that is essential
"The soil is deficient in nutrients."
to pollute, corrupt, or make dirty
"The river was defiled by industrial waste."
Reduction of the general level of prices in an economy.
"Deflation often leads to decreased consumer spending."
to cause something to change direction; to avoid answering directly
"The shield deflected the incoming arrow."
to clear an area of trees, usually on a large scale
"The region has been heavily deforested for agriculture."
to change the normal shape or structure of something by twisting or distorting it
"Excessive heat can deform plastic containers."
an abnormality or distortion in the shape or structure of a body part
"The child was born with a minor hand deformity."
to illegally take money or valuables from someone by deception
"The company was accused of trying to defraud investors."
Demonstrating skill and cleverness in movement or action.
"The pianist's deft fingers moved across the keys with ease."
No longer existing, operating, or functioning.
"The company became defunct after the financial crisis."
To make a situation less dangerous, tense, or explosive; to remove a fuse from a bomb.
"The negotiator helped defuse the tense situation."
To decline or deteriorate in quality, character, or condition; or someone with low moral standards.
"The once thriving empire began to degenerate into chaos."
The process of decline or deterioration in structure or function.
"The degeneration of brain cells leads to cognitive decline."
