CEFR Level
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."
Medical conditions that involve the deterioration or progressive decline of tissues, organs, or functions
"Degenerative diseases are common in an aging population."
The process of being degraded, declined, or reduced in quality, dignity, or value.
"Pollution leads to the degradation of the environment."
To lower in dignity, quality, or value; to treat with disrespect or to deteriorate.
"Harsh words can degrade a person's confidence."
Reduced in quality, dignity, or condition.
"The villagers were forced to live in degraded conditions."
to remove water from something; to lose water or body fluids
"Running in the heat can quickly dehydrate you."
a god or goddess
"The temple is dedicated to a Hindu deity."
Long and careful consideration or discussion of a matter.
"The committee engaged in thorough deliberation."
Long and careful consideration or discussion
"Deliberations on AI governance are ongoing."
a rare or expensive food item; fineness or sensitivity
"Caviar is considered a delicacy in many countries."
to describe, portray, or define something precisely and clearly
"The contract clearly delineates the responsibilities of each party."
in an extremely disturbed or excited state of mind, often due to illness or emotion
"He was delirious with fever and kept muttering nonsense."
An acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence.
"The patient experienced delirium after the surgery due to the strong medication."
A geographical area formed by sediment deposits at the mouth of a river, creating a triangular land formation.
"Bangladesh has a unique deltaic landscape."
To mislead someone into believing something that is not true.
"He deluded himself into thinking he could win the race without training."
A severe flood; an overwhelming quantity of something.
"The town was hit by a deluge of rain in just a few hours."
A false belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality.
"He lived under the delusion that he was invincible."
To investigate deeply; to dig into a subject or area.
"The researcher delved into ancient manuscripts to find clues."
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
"The crowd was swayed by the fiery speeches of the demagogue."
to set the boundaries or limits of something
"The land was demarcated with fences to avoid disputes."
the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; separation or division
"The demarcation between public and private land was clearly marked."
to cause someone to lose dignity or respect
"The manager demeaned his employees with rude remarks."
a person's outward behavior or appearance
"Her calm demeanor impressed everyone at the meeting."
a person's outward behavior or appearance
"Her calm demeanour impressed everyone during the meeting."
behaving irrationally due to mental illness or extreme excitement
"He looked demented after hearing the shocking news."
A fault or disadvantage; a mark against a person for misconduct.
"He received a demerit for being late to class."
Death or end of something, especially the end of an institution or system.
"The sudden demise of the company shocked investors."
