devastating
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B2 adjective /ˈdevəsteɪtɪŋ/

devastating

Meaning
causing severe shock, distress, or destruction; extremely damaging or upsetting
Example
The earthquake had a devastating effect on the city.
A2 adjective /dɑːrk bluː/

Dark blue

Meaning
a deep shade of blue color
Example
She wore a dark blue dress to the party.
C1 verb /dɪˈfɔːrm/

deform

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.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɜrsɪv/

discursive

Meaning
Tending to digress or move from topic to topic; lengthy and rambling.
Example
His discursive style made the lecture hard to follow.
C1 verb /daɪˈvʌldʒ/

divulge

Meaning
to make known something private, secret, or previously unknown
Example
She refused to divulge the source of her information.
B2 verb /dɪˈnaʊns/

denounce

Meaning
To publicly declare something to be wrong, evil, or condemn strongly.
Example
The leader denounced corruption in his speech.
B2 noun /ˈdɛsɪməl/

decimal

Meaning
A number system based on 10; a number expressed in the base-10 system.
Example
The number 0.75 is a decimal.
C1 verb /ˈdɛnɪˌɡreɪt/

denigrate

Meaning
to criticize unfairly; to belittle or disparage someone or something
Example
He was quick to denigrate the achievements of his colleagues.
C2 noun /ˌdɛprɪˈdeɪʃən/

depredation

Meaning
An act of attacking or plundering; damage caused by such acts.
Example
The villagers feared the depredation of wild animals at night.
B1 verb /dɪsˈtrɪbjuːt/

distribute

Meaning
to give out or spread something among several people or places
Example
The teacher will distribute the test papers.
B2 adjective /dɪˈskriːt/

discreet

Meaning
careful and prudent in one's speech or actions, especially to keep something confidential or avoid embarrassment
Example
She was discreet about the details of their conversation.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪmˈbɑːrk/

disembark

Meaning
To leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Example
The passengers disembarked from the plane after landing.
C1 noun /dɪsˈsɜːrvɪs/

disservice

Meaning
A harmful action; something that does damage rather than help.
Example
Spreading false information is a disservice to the community.
B2 noun /ˈdɛməˌkræt/

democrat

Meaning
a supporter of democracy or a member of the Democratic Party in the US
Example
He is a strong democrat who believes in equal rights.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛdˌpæn/

deadpan

Meaning
Deliberately impassive or expressionless in manner.
Example
She delivered the joke in a completely deadpan voice.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈreɪ/

disarray

Meaning
A state of disorganization or untidiness; confusion or disorder.
Example
His desk was in complete disarray.
C1 verb /dɪˈdjuːs/

deduce

Meaning
to reach a conclusion by reasoning or inference
Example
From the evidence, the detective deduced that the suspect was lying.
C1 verb dɪˈsaɪ.fɚ

decipher

Meaning
To convert something written in code into normal language; to succeed in understanding the meaning of something.
Example
It took hours to decipher the ancient script.
A2 adverb /ˌdaʊnˈsteəz/

Downstairs

Meaning
on or to a lower floor of a building
Example
Please go downstairs and wait in the lobby.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪ.ə.ti/

deity

Meaning
a god or goddess
Example
The temple is dedicated to a Hindu deity.
C1 verb /ˌdiː.kəmˈprɛs/

decompress

Meaning
To relax and recover from stress or pressure.
Example
Taking deep breaths helps to decompress after a stressful day.
C2 noun /ˌdɪskwɪˈzɪʃən/

disquisition

Meaning
A long or elaborate discussion or written essay on a particular subject.
Example
The professor gave a lengthy disquisition on ancient philosophy.
A2 noun /dɒl/

doll

Meaning
a small toy resembling a human figure, especially for children
Example
The little girl hugged her favorite doll tightly.
A2 verb /dɪˈstrɔɪ/

destroy

Meaning
to damage something so badly that it cannot be used
Example
The fire destroyed the entire building.
C1 adjective /ˈdɪs.ə.plɪ.ner.i/

Disciplinary

Meaning
relating to discipline; intended to correct behavior
Example
The company took disciplinary action against the employee.
B2 adjective daɪˈvɜːs

diverse

Meaning
Showing a great deal of variety; very different.
Example
Diverse industries enhance economic resilience.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkəˈsɪləbəl/

decasyllable

Meaning
A line of verse with ten syllables.
Example
The poet often wrote in decasyllable form.
B2 noun /ˌdel.ɪˈɡeɪ.ʃən/

delegation

Meaning
A group of people chosen to represent others in negotiations or discussions.
Example
The delegation presented their country's agenda.
C2 noun /dɪˈstreɪnər/

distrainor

Meaning
a person, usually a landlord, who seizes another's property for unpaid debt or rent
Example
The distrainor took possession of the tenant's car until the debt was cleared.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstɛnsəbl̩/

distensible

Meaning
Capable of being stretched or expanded.
Example
The stomach is a distensible organ that can expand after eating.
A2 noun /deθ/

Death

Meaning
the end of life; the permanent cessation of vital functions
Example
The death of the great leader was mourned by the entire nation.
C1 adjective /ˈdeɪnti/

dainty

Meaning
Delicately small, pretty, and often considered elegant.
Example
She wore a dainty necklace made of pearls.
C1 adjective draʊt rɪˈzɪs.tənt

drought-resistant

Meaning
Able to survive and grow despite limited water availability or drought conditions.
Example
Drought-resistant crops can survive in arid conditions.
C1 verb /dɪˈvɒlv/

devolve

Meaning
To pass power, responsibility, or duties to another person or group.
Example
The responsibility will devolve on the new manager.
C2 verb /ˈdɛsɪkreɪt/

desecrate

Meaning
to treat a sacred place or object with disrespect or violation
Example
The vandals desecrated the ancient temple walls with graffiti.
C1 noun /ˈdeɪˌbreɪk/

daybreak

Meaning
The time in the morning when daylight first appears; dawn.
Example
They set out on their journey at daybreak.
C2 verb /ˈdɪðər/

dither

Meaning
to be indecisive or unable to make a decision
Example
He dithered for hours before choosing a restaurant.
B2 adverb /ˈdɪmli/

dimly

Meaning
in a faint or unclear way; with little light
Example
The room was dimly lit by a single candle.
B2 noun /dɪˈdʌk.ʃən/

deduction

Meaning
The process of reaching a conclusion through logical reasoning.
Example
His deduction from the evidence was accurate.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌktaɪl/

ductile

Meaning
capable of being stretched into a thin wire without breaking; easily influenced
Example
Gold is a very ductile metal.
C1 verb, noun /dɪsˈkrɛdɪt/

discredit

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.
B2 noun /ˈdʌbəl ˈdekər/

Double decker

Meaning
a bus with two levels or floors for passengers
Example
The red double decker bus is a famous symbol of London.
C1 noun /ˌdɛməˈlɪʃən/

demolition

Meaning
the act or process of destroying a building or structure
Example
The demolition of the old factory took several weeks.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɡrɛsɪv/

digressive

Meaning
Tending to depart from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
The speaker's digressive style made the lecture difficult to follow.
C2 verb /dɪˈlæpɪdeɪt/

dilapidate

Meaning
To cause something, especially a building, to fall into ruin or disrepair.
Example
The abandoned house began to dilapidate over the years.
A2 noun /ˈdɛsktɒp/

desktop

Meaning
a computer designed to be used on a desk, typically with a separate monitor, keyboard, and mouse
Example
I keep my documents on the desktop for easy access.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsrɪˈpjuːt/

disrepute

Meaning
the state of being held in low esteem or having a bad reputation
Example
The scandal brought the politician into disrepute.
C2 adjective /ˈdəʊ.lə.rəs/

dolorous

Meaning
Expressing great sorrow or distress.
Example
He spoke in a dolorous tone after the loss.
C2 noun /ˌdiːnəʊˈteɪʃən/

denotation

Meaning
The literal or primary meaning of a word, in contrast to the feelings or ideas that the word suggests.
Example
The denotation of the word 'rose' is a type of flower.
B1 noun /ˌdɛfɪˈnɪʃən/

definition

Meaning
a statement that explains the meaning of a word or concept
Example
The dictionary gives a clear definition of the word.
B1 adjective /dɪsˈɒnəst/

Dishonest

Meaning
not honest; fraudulent; deceitful
Example
The dishonest salesman tried to sell them a broken car.
B2 verb /daɪˈvɜːrt/

divert

Meaning
to turn aside from a course; to redirect or entertain
Example
The police diverted traffic to a side road.
A2 noun dɪˈskʌʃ.ənz

discussions

Meaning
The action or process of talking about something in order to reach a decision or to exchange ideas.
Example
Discussions promote collaboration.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈkɔːrdənt/

discordant

Meaning
disagreeing or clashing; harsh and jarring in sound
Example
The discordant notes of the band hurt our ears.
C1 verb /ˈdɛprɪˌkeɪt/

deprecate

Meaning
to express disapproval of something
Example
The teacher deprecated the use of slang in academic essays.
B2 noun /ˈder.ɪŋ/

Daring

Meaning
adventurous courage; willingness to take risks
Example
The mountain climber's daring impressed everyone at the base camp.
B2 noun, verb /dɪˈfɔːlt/

default

Meaning
failure to fulfill an obligation, especially to repay a loan
Example
The company defaulted on its loan payments.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈpoʊz/

discompose

Meaning
To disturb the order or calmness of something or someone.
Example
The unexpected question seemed to discompose her.
B2 noun /ˌdaɪəɡˈnoʊsɪs/

diagnosis

Meaning
The identification of a disease, condition, or problem through examination of symptoms.
Example
The diagnosis confirmed that she had diabetes.
B2 adjective /dɪˈfektɪv/

Defective

Meaning
having faults or defects; imperfect
Example
The defective product was returned to the store.
C2 adjective /dæŋk/

dank

Meaning
unpleasantly damp and cold
Example
The basement was dark and dank, filled with a musty smell.
C1 verb /dɪˈmoʊt/

demote

Meaning
to reduce to a lower rank or position
Example
The manager decided to demote the employee for poor performance.
B2 noun /ˈdeɪ.tə briːtʃ/

data breach

Meaning
Unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information through security violation
Example
A data breach exposed millions of users' passwords.
C2 verb /dɪˈfreɪ/

defray

Meaning
to provide money to pay the costs of something
Example
The grant will help defray the cost of education.
C1 verb /dʌb/

dub

Meaning
to give a name or label to something; to add a soundtrack to a film or recording
Example
The movie was dubbed into several languages for international release.
C1 noun /ˌdɛsɪˈmeɪʃən/

decimation

Meaning
The act of destroying or killing a large proportion of something.
Example
The decimation of the city left thousands homeless.
B2 noun /dɪˈsen.dənt/

Descendant

Meaning
a person who is descended from a particular ancestor; offspring of a later generation
Example
She discovered that she was a descendant of European royalty through genealogy research.
C1 noun /draɪ fɪʃ/

Dry fish

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.
C1 noun dɪˈspær.ə.ti

disparity

Meaning
A great difference or inequality.
Example
Disparity between countries must be reduced.
B2 adjective /dɪˈpɛndəbl/

dependable

Meaning
able to be trusted or relied on; consistently reliable
Example
She is a dependable colleague who always meets deadlines.
C1 verb /dɪˈfeɪm/

defame

Meaning
to harm someone's reputation by spreading false information
Example
He was defamed by malicious rumors.
C1 verb /dɪˈpɔːrt/

deport

Meaning
To expel a foreigner from a country, usually for legal or political reasons.
Example
The government decided to deport the illegal immigrants.
C1 adjective /dɪsˈɪntrəstɪd/

disinterested

Meaning
not influenced by personal interest; impartial or neutral
Example
The judge remained disinterested in the case.
B2 noun /doʊs/

dose

Meaning
a measured amount of a medicine or drug taken at one time
Example
The doctor prescribed one dose of the medicine every six hours.
C1 noun /ˈdæn.drʌf/

Dandruff

Meaning
small white or grey flakes of dead skin that form on the scalp and fall from the hair
Example
He used a special shampoo to treat his persistent dandruff problem.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡərəl/

doggerel

Meaning
Comic or irregular verse, often poorly constructed and lacking in artistic quality.
Example
The poet’s work was dismissed as mere doggerel by the critics.
B2 adjective /ˈdɪl.ɪ.dʒənt/

Diligent

Meaning
hardworking and careful; showing persistent effort
Example
She is a diligent student who studies every day.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪsənənt/

dissonant

Meaning
Harsh and lacking harmony; conflicting.
Example
The orchestra produced a dissonant sound during rehearsal.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛbəˈnɛr/

debonair

Meaning
confident, stylish, and charming, typically referring to a man
Example
He looked debonair in his tuxedo at the gala.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪsəˈfɛktɪd/

disaffected

Meaning
Dissatisfied and rebellious, especially against authority or leadership.
Example
The reforms were introduced to calm the disaffected youth.
C1 verb /daɪˈleɪt/

dilate

Meaning
To make wider, larger, or more open.
Example
The doctor used drops to dilate the patient's pupils.
C1 adjective /dɪˈpreɪvd/

depraved

Meaning
morally corrupt or wicked
Example
The film depicts the life of a depraved criminal.
A2 noun /ˈdiː.teɪl/

detail

Meaning
An individual feature, fact, or item of information.
Example
She explained the plan in great detail.
C2 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃəs/

dissentious

Meaning
Causing or likely to cause disagreement and conflict.
Example
His dissentious remarks divided the group further.
C1 adjective /ˈdesələt/

Desolate

Meaning
deserted; lonely; barren
Example
The abandoned village looked desolate and empty.
C2 adjective /ˌdeɪ.kɒlˈteɪ/

decollete

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.
B1 verb /dɪˈfiːt/

Defeat

Meaning
to win a victory over; to overcome in battle or competition
Example
The army managed to defeat the enemy forces.
A1 verb/noun /dæns/

dance

Meaning
to move rhythmically to music, typically following a set sequence of steps
Example
They danced all night at the wedding.
B2 adjective /ˈdespərət/

Desperate

Meaning
reckless; extremely urgent; critical
Example
The situation became desperate as water supplies ran out.
C1 noun /ˈdɛməɡɒɡ/

demagogue

Meaning
A political leader who seeks support by appealing to popular desires and prejudices rather than by using rational argument.
Example
The crowd was swayed by the fiery speeches of the demagogue.
C1 verb /ˌdɪskənˈsɜːrt/

disconcert

Meaning
To unsettle, confuse, or disturb the composure of someone.
Example
The sudden change of plans disconcerted the team.
C1 adjective /dɪˈɡreɪdɪd/

degraded

Meaning
Reduced in quality, dignity, or condition.
Example
The villagers were forced to live in degraded conditions.
B2 verb /dɪsˈkʌrɪdʒ/

discourage

Meaning
to make someone less confident or enthusiastic about doing something
Example
Failure should not discourage you from trying again.
C1 adjective /dɪˈlæpɪˌdeɪtɪd/

dilapidated

Meaning
Fallen into disrepair or ruin due to neglect or age.
Example
The family lived in a dilapidated house at the edge of town.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃəs/

disputatious

Meaning
fond of or given to argument and debate
Example
His disputatious nature often led to heated conversations.
C1 noun /dɪsˈlɛksiə/

dyslexia

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.
C1 noun /dʌsk/

Dusk

Meaning
the period of the day when daylight is fading; twilight
Example
They walked along the beach during dusk, watching the sunset.
C2 noun /djuːˈplɪsɪti/

duplicity

Meaning
Deceitfulness or double-dealing; dishonesty.
Example
Her duplicity was revealed during the investigation.
C2 verb /dɪsˈmɛmbər/

dismember

Meaning
to cut or tear the limbs from a body; to divide into separate parts
Example
The king ordered his enemies to be dismembered.
C1 noun/verb /ˈdiːkɔɪ/

decoy

Meaning
something or someone used to lure or mislead
Example
The hunters used a wooden duck as a decoy.
C1 noun /ˈdek.ə.dəns/

decadence

Meaning
Moral or cultural decline characterized by excessive indulgence in pleasure or luxury.
Example
The novel describes the decadence of the wealthy elite.
B2 verb /doʊz/

doze

Meaning
To sleep lightly for a short time.
Example
He dozed off while reading the book.
C2 noun /draɪ ɡuːs ˈbɛri/

Dry goose berry

Meaning
dehydrated amla fruit, rich in vitamin C and used for medicinal and culinary purposes
Example
Dry goose berry powder is excellent for hair growth.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊ.di/

dowdy

Meaning
unfashionable, dull, or shabby in appearance
Example
She wore a dowdy dress to the party.
C2 noun /dɪˈkæmərən/

decameron

Meaning
A collection of 100 tales written by Giovanni Boccaccio in the 14th century, told by a group of people over ten days.
Example
The Decameron is considered a masterpiece of classical Italian literature.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪt/

discombobulate

Meaning
to confuse or disconcert; to upset the normal order
Example
The sudden question seemed to discombobulate him.
C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈtɒmɪk/

diatomic

Meaning
Consisting of two atoms.
Example
Oxygen is a diatomic molecule.
B1 noun, verb /dɪˈzaɪər/

desire

Meaning
a strong feeling of wanting something or wishing for something to happen
Example
He has a strong desire to travel the world.
C1 noun ˌdɛɡrəˈdeɪʃən

degradation

Meaning
The condition or process of degrading or being degraded.
Example
Soil degradation due to overuse is a growing issue.
B2 noun /dɪˈrɛktəri/

directory

Meaning
a book or online resource listing people, businesses, or services with relevant details
Example
I need to find a plumber in the phone directory.
C2 verb /ˌdɪspəˈzɛs/

dispossess

Meaning
to deprive someone of land, property, or other possessions
Example
The new law threatened to dispossess many farmers of their land.
C1 verb /ˈdræm.ə.taɪz/

dramatize

Meaning
to present a story in a dramatic way, or to exaggerate something
Example
The novel was dramatized into a popular TV series.
C1 verb /daʊs/

douse

Meaning
to pour liquid over; to extinguish a fire or light
Example
Firefighters doused the flames with water.
C2 verb /dɪˈmɜːr/

demur

Meaning
to raise doubts, objections, or show reluctance
Example
She agreed to help without demur.
C1 noun /ˈdɪsənˌtɛri/

dysentery

Meaning
An infection of the intestines resulting in severe diarrhea with blood and mucus.
Example
Many soldiers suffered from dysentery during the war.
C1 verb /ˈdrɪbəl/

dribble

Meaning
to let liquid flow slowly in drops or to move a ball skillfully with repeated small kicks or bounces
Example
The baby dribbled milk on his shirt.
B2 noun /ˈdɪɡ.nə.ti/

Dignity

Meaning
the state of being worthy of honor or respect; composure and self-respect
Example
Despite facing hardships, she maintained her dignity throughout the ordeal.
A2 noun /dɪˈsɪʒənz/

decisions

Meaning
A conclusion or resolution reached after consideration; the action or process of deciding something.
Example
Making the right decisions in time was key to the project's success.
C1 noun /ˈdaʊn.pɔːr/

Downpour

Meaning
a heavy fall of rain; a sudden heavy rainfall
Example
The sudden downpour caught everyone off guard and soaked the outdoor event.
B2 verb /dɪsˈmɪs/

dismiss

Meaning
to remove someone from a job or position; to decide something is not important
Example
The manager dismissed the employee for being late too often.
B2 noun /dɪˈpləʊməsi/

diplomacy

Meaning
The profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations or handling affairs tactfully.
Example
Effective diplomacy helped avoid the conflict.