diabolic
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C2 adjective /ˌdaɪəˈbɒlɪk/

diabolic

Meaning
Extremely evil or cruel; characteristic of the devil.
Example
The villain devised a diabolic scheme.
C2 noun /drʌdʒ/

drudge

Meaning
A person made to do hard, menial, or dull work.
Example
He felt like a drudge, stuck in repetitive tasks all day.
C2 verb /deɪn/

deign

Meaning
to do something considered beneath one's dignity
Example
The king did not deign to reply to the commoner.
C2 adjective /dɪˈluːsɪv/

delusive

Meaning
Giving a false or misleading impression; deceptive.
Example
His promises turned out to be delusive and untrustworthy.
C2 adjective /droʊl/

droll

Meaning
curious or unusual in a way that provokes dry amusement
Example
He had a droll sense of humor that made everyone laugh.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈpoʊz/

discompose

Meaning
To disturb the order or calmness of something or someone.
Example
The unexpected question seemed to discompose her.
C2 noun /ˌdɛd ˈhiːt/

dead-heat

Meaning
a race or contest in which two or more competitors finish exactly equal
Example
The race ended in a dead-heat between the two runners.
C2 noun /ˈdrækmə/

drachma

Meaning
The basic monetary unit of Greece before the adoption of the euro.
Example
The old coin collection included a silver drachma.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛndrɔɪd/

dendroid

Meaning
tree-shaped or branching like a tree
Example
The coral has a dendroid structure.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪˌsɪləbəl/

disyllable

Meaning
a word consisting of two syllables
Example
The word 'happy' is a disyllable.
C2 adjective /dɪˈskrɛpənt/

discrepant

Meaning
showing a difference or inconsistency
Example
The witnesses gave discrepant accounts of the incident.
C2 verb /ˈdiːɪfaɪ/

deify

Meaning
to treat or worship someone or something as a god
Example
Some fans deify their favorite celebrities.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsəˈvaʊəl/

disavowal

Meaning
the denial of any responsibility, connection, or support
Example
The politician issued a firm disavowal of the controversial remarks.
C2 verb /ˌdɒmɪˈnɪə/

domineer

Meaning
to assert one's will over another in an arrogant way
Example
He tends to domineer over his younger colleagues.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsprəˈpɔːrʃən/

disproportion

Meaning
a lack of balance or symmetry; an inequality
Example
There is a clear disproportion between rich and poor in many societies.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəbl/

dutiable

Meaning
subject to customs duty or tax
Example
Imported electronics are often dutiable at the border.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈtɜːr/

disinter

Meaning
to dig up something buried, especially a body
Example
The archaeologists disinterred ancient remains from the site.
C2 verb /ˈdɛsɪkeɪt/

desiccate

Meaning
to dry up completely or remove the moisture from something
Example
The hot sun can quickly desiccate plants in the desert.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɑːr/

disbar

Meaning
to officially remove a lawyer from the legal profession
Example
The corrupt lawyer was disbarred for unethical conduct.
C2 verb /dɪˈkæpɪteɪt/

decapitate

Meaning
To cut off the head of a person or animal.
Example
The ancient executioner decapitated the criminal.
C2 verb /dɪˈnjuːd/

denude

Meaning
to strip something of its covering, possessions, or assets
Example
The forest was denuded of trees by illegal logging.
C2 verb /ˈdɪðər/

dither

Meaning
to be indecisive or unable to make a decision
Example
He dithered for hours before choosing a restaurant.
C2 noun /ˈdræɡˌnɛt/

dragnet

Meaning
A systematic search or investigation, often by police to catch criminals.
Example
The police launched a dragnet to capture the fugitives.
C2 verb /diːˈpɒpjʊˌleɪt/

depopulate

Meaning
To reduce the number of people living in a place.
Example
The war threatened to depopulate the once-thriving town.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪtɪd/

discombobulated

Meaning
confused and disoriented; feeling unsettled
Example
She looked discombobulated after hearing the unexpected news.
C2 prefix /dɪs-/

dys-

Meaning
A prefix meaning abnormal, bad, difficult, or impaired.
Example
Words like 'dysfunction' and 'dyslexia' use the prefix dys- to indicate difficulty or impairment.
C2 noun /ˈdɪktəm/

dictum

Meaning
A formal pronouncement, authoritative statement, or maxim.
Example
The judge’s dictum clarified the principle of equality before the law.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊti/

doughty

Meaning
brave, valiant, courageous
Example
The doughty soldier never backed down from a challenge.
C2 noun /dɪˈbɔːtʃəri/

debauchery

Meaning
excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures; corruption or vice
Example
The novel depicts the debauchery of the aristocrats in the city.
C2 verb /dɪˈkænt/

decant

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.
C2 adjective /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛsənt/

deliquescent

Meaning
tending to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
Sugar is not deliquescent, but salt can be.
C2 verb /dɔːb/

daub

Meaning
to spread a thick or sticky substance carelessly on a surface
Example
The children daubed paint all over the walls.
C2 adjective /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/

duplicitous

Meaning
Deceitful; deliberately deceptive or dishonest.
Example
The politician was criticized for his duplicitous statements.
C2 adjective /dɛˈspɒtɪk/

despotic

Meaning
exercising power in a cruel, oppressive, or authoritarian way
Example
The king’s despotic rule left the people in misery.
C2 noun /ˌdɪpsəˈmeɪniæk/

dipsomaniac

Meaning
A person with an uncontrollable craving for alcoholic drinks.
Example
The novel portrayed the tragic downfall of a dipsomaniac who lost everything to alcohol.
C2 noun /djuːˈɛnə/

duenna

Meaning
an older woman acting as a governess or chaperone, especially in Spanish families
Example
The young lady was accompanied by a duenna during the festival.
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.
C2 verb /dɪsˈroʊb/

disrobe

Meaning
to remove one's clothes
Example
The monk disrobed before entering the river.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsəˈreɪndʒ/

disarrange

Meaning
to disturb the order or arrangement of something
Example
The wind disarranged her hair.
C2 adjective /ˌdɪsəˈfɛktɪd/

disaffected

Meaning
Dissatisfied and rebellious, especially against authority or leadership.
Example
The reforms were introduced to calm the disaffected youth.
C2 verb /dɪˈtruːd/

detrude

Meaning
To thrust or force something downward or outward.
Example
The violent waves detruded rocks from the cliff.
C2 noun /ˌdɪspjuːˈteɪʃən/

disputation

Meaning
a formal debate or argument
Example
The disputation between the two scholars lasted for hours.
C2 verb /daʊz/

dowse

Meaning
To search for underground water or minerals using a divining rod; also to drench or extinguish with liquid.
Example
The farmer tried to dowse for water in the dry field.
C2 verb /dɪsˈbɜːrdən/

disburden

Meaning
to relieve someone of a burden or load
Example
She disburdened herself of worries by sharing them with her friend.
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.
C2 noun /daɪˈɡrɛʃən/

digression

Meaning
A temporary departure from the main subject in speech or writing.
Example
Her story was full of interesting digressions.
C2 adjective /dɪˈkɔːrəs/

decourous

Meaning
characterized by propriety, good taste, and proper manners
Example
She maintained a decourous silence during the ceremony.
C2 noun /draɪ ˈmæŋgoʊ ˈpaʊdər/

Dry Mango Powder

Meaning
a tangy powder made from dried raw mangoes, used as a spice in Indian cuisine
Example
The chef sprinkled dry mango powder over the chaat for extra tanginess.
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 noun /ˈdɛskænt/

descant

Meaning
An additional melody or counterpoint sung or played above the main melody.
Example
The choir added a beautiful descant to the hymn.
C2 noun /ˈdɛftnəs/

deftness

Meaning
Skillfulness and quickness in action or thought.
Example
Her deftness with words impressed the audience.
C2 adjective /ˈdɛsəlˌtɔːri/

desultory

Meaning
lacking a clear plan, purpose, or enthusiasm
Example
His desultory conversation bored the audience.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪɡræf/

digraph

Meaning
A pair of letters representing a single sound, such as 'sh' in 'ship'.
Example
In the word 'phone', the letters 'ph' form a digraph.
C2 noun /ˈdəʊ.lər/

dolor

Meaning
A state of great sorrow or distress.
Example
The nation was in deep dolor after the tragedy.
C2 noun /dɪˈkrɛpɪˌtjuːd/

decrepitude

Meaning
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
Example
The once-great empire fell into decrepitude.
C2 adjective /ˈdaʊ.di/

dowdy

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

didactic

Meaning
Intended to teach, often with a moral lesson.
Example
The novel is not just entertaining but also didactic in nature.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪsənənt/

dissonant

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

deportment

Meaning
A person's behavior or manners, especially in a formal situation.
Example
Her deportment during the ceremony impressed everyone.
C2 verb /ˌdɛlɪˈkwɛs/

deliquesce

Meaning
to become liquid by absorbing moisture from the air
Example
The salt began to deliquesce after being left in the humid room.
C2 noun /daɪn/

dyne

Meaning
A unit of force in the centimeter-gram-second (cgs) system equal to 10⁻⁵ newtons.
Example
The physicist measured the force in dynes.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪsəluːt/

dissolute

Meaning
lacking moral restraint; indulging excessively in sensual pleasures
Example
He led a dissolute life filled with parties and gambling.
C2 noun /ˈdæstərd/

dastard

Meaning
a cowardly or dishonorable person
Example
Only a dastard would betray his closest friend.
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.
C2 verb /ˈdɒdə/

dodder

Meaning
To move in a weak and unsteady way, especially due to old age.
Example
The old man doddered across the street with a cane.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkʌmfɪtɪŋ/

discomfiting

Meaning
Causing unease, embarrassment, or discomfort.
Example
His discomfiting questions made everyone shift uncomfortably in their seats.
C2 noun /ˈdoʊtɪdʒ/

dotage

Meaning
The period of old age, especially when one is weak or senile.
Example
He spent his dotage reminiscing about his youth.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɪstəns/

desistance

Meaning
The act of stopping or ceasing from some action or behavior.
Example
The court urged his desistance from further unlawful activities.
C2 verb /ˌdɪsɪnˈfræntʃaɪz/

disenfranchise

Meaning
To deprive someone of the right to vote or other rights.
Example
The new law could disenfranchise thousands of voters.
C2 verb /dɪˈdʒɛkt/

deject

Meaning
to make someone feel sad, depressed, or dispirited
Example
The news of his failure seemed to deject him deeply.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/

disinclination

Meaning
a lack of willingness or desire to do something
Example
She showed a clear disinclination to join the meeting.
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.
C2 verb /ˈdʌmfaʊnd/

dumbfound

Meaning
to greatly astonish or shock someone so they are temporarily speechless
Example
The magician's trick dumbfounded the audience.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌlɔːɡ/

decalogue

Meaning
The Ten Commandments in the Bible; a set of fundamental rules or principles.
Example
The priest gave a sermon on the importance of the Decalogue.
C2 noun /ˌdɛspəˈrɑːdoʊ/

desperado

Meaning
A bold, reckless, or dangerous person, often a criminal.
Example
The sheriff was determined to capture the desperado who terrorized the town.
C2 verb /dɪˈbɪlɪteɪt/

debilitate

Meaning
to weaken or make someone or something infirm
Example
The long illness debilitated his strength.
C2 noun /ˈdɔɪən/

doyen

Meaning
The most respected or prominent person in a particular field.
Example
He is regarded as the doyen of modern literature in the country.
C2 verb /ˈdʌv.teɪl/

dovetail

Meaning
to fit or combine perfectly together
Example
Her plans dovetail perfectly with our goals.
C2 adjective /dɪˈrɪzəbl/

derisible

Meaning
deserving ridicule or mockery
Example
His excuse was so weak that it was plainly derisible.
C2 verb /dɪˈnɒmɪˌneɪt/

denominate

Meaning
to give a name or designation to something
Example
The currency was denominated in dollars.
C2 verb /drɔːl/

drawl

Meaning
to speak in a slow, lazy way with prolonged vowel sounds
Example
He tends to drawl when he is tired.
C2 verb /diːˈmoʊbəlaɪz/

demobilize

Meaning
To release from military service or to disband troops.
Example
The government decided to demobilize the army after the war.
C2 verb /djuːp/

dupe

Meaning
To deceive or trick someone into believing or doing something.
Example
He was duped into buying a fake watch.
C2 adjective /ˈdjuːtiəs/

duteous

Meaning
dutiful; obedient and respectful
Example
The duteous child always followed her parents’ instructions.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪfɪdənt/

diffident

Meaning
Shy or lacking confidence in one's own abilities.
Example
He was too diffident to ask a question in class.
C2 noun /ˈdɒɡ roʊz/

Dog-rose

Meaning
A wild rose species with pink or white flowers and thorny stems, common in hedgerows
Example
The dog-rose bush grew wild along the countryside path.
C2 noun /ˈdɪti/

ditty

Meaning
a short, simple song or poem
Example
She sang a cheerful little ditty while cooking.
C2 noun /daɪˈvɛstɪtʃər/

divestiture

Meaning
the action of selling off or disposing of business interests or assets
Example
The divestiture of the subsidiary was completed last year.
C2 verb /dɪˈkleɪm/

declaim

Meaning
to speak aloud in a formal, passionate, or theatrical way
Example
The actor declaimed his lines with great intensity.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfɪdəns/

diffidence

Meaning
Lack of self-confidence; shyness or modesty.
Example
Her diffidence made it hard for her to speak in public.
C2 verb /dɪˈfoʊlieɪt/

defoliate

Meaning
to strip leaves from a tree, plant, or area, often using chemicals
Example
The farmers defoliated the fields before harvest.
C2 noun /ˈdɛkəˌɡɒn/

decagon

Meaning
A polygon with ten sides and ten angles.
Example
The geometry teacher drew a perfect decagon on the board.
C2 noun /dɪˌsɪdəˈreɪtəm/

desideratum

Meaning
something that is desired or considered necessary
Example
For many students, financial aid is a desideratum.
C2 noun /dæmˈneɪ.ʃən/

Damnation

Meaning
condemnation to eternal punishment in hell; something that causes ruin or failure
Example
The preacher spoke about salvation and damnation in his sermon.
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 noun /dɪˈstɛnʃən/

distention

Meaning
The state of being swollen due to internal pressure.
Example
The patient complained of abdominal pain and distention.
C2 adjective /ˈdʌktaɪl/

ductile

Meaning
capable of being stretched into a thin wire without breaking; easily influenced
Example
Gold is a very ductile metal.
C2 noun /dɪsˈjuːnjən/

disunion

Meaning
the state of being separated or not united
Example
Civil wars often result from national disunion.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈbɑːbjuleɪt/

discombobulate

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

disjunction

Meaning
A lack of connection between things; separation or disunity.
Example
There is a clear disjunction between theory and practice.
C2 verb /dɪˈskraɪ/

descry

Meaning
to catch sight of something, especially something distant or obscure
Example
From the hilltop, they descried a small village in the distance.
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 /ˌdaɪəˈkrɪtɪkəl/

diacritical

Meaning
Relating to a mark added to a letter to indicate a different pronunciation or stress.
Example
The word résumé has diacritical marks that change its meaning from resume.
C2 verb /dɪˈsɪmjʊˌleɪt/

dissimulate

Meaning
To disguise or conceal one's true feelings or intentions.
Example
He tried to dissimulate his fear with a smile.
C2 adverb /ˈdɑːrklɪŋ/

darkling

Meaning
In the dark or growing dark; dimly.
Example
The forest creatures moved darkling through the night.
C2 verb /ˈdɛpjʊˌtaɪz/

deputize

Meaning
To appoint someone as a deputy; to act as a substitute or representative.
Example
The sheriff decided to deputize several locals to help maintain order.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪstəl/

distal

Meaning
situated away from the center of the body or from the point of attachment
Example
The doctor examined the distal end of the patient’s arm.
C2 noun /drɒs/

dross

Meaning
worthless or unwanted material; rubbish or impurities
Example
Most of his early writings were considered dross.
C2 noun /ˈdɪfθɒŋ/

diphthong

Meaning
A complex vowel sound that begins with one vowel and glides into another within the same syllable.
Example
The word 'coin' contains a diphthong.
C2 adjective /daɪˈɜːrnəl/

diurnal

Meaning
active during the day; occurring daily
Example
Most birds are diurnal creatures, active in daylight hours.
C2 verb /dɪsˈteɪn/

distain

Meaning
to treat with scorn or contempt (archaic form of disdain)
Example
He would never distain those who had less fortune than him.
C2 adjective /dɪˈsɛnʃənt/

dissentient

Meaning
Expressing or holding opinions that are opposed to the majority or official view.
Example
Only a few dissentient voices were heard during the debate.
C2 noun /ˌdɛkəˈsɪləbəl/

decasyllable

Meaning
A line of verse with ten syllables.
Example
The poet often wrote in decasyllable form.
C2 verb /dɪsˈpɔːrt/

disport

Meaning
To amuse oneself in a lively or playful way.
Example
The children disported themselves in the garden.
C2 adjective /dɪˈlɛktəbl̩/

delectable

Meaning
delicious or highly enjoyable
Example
The restaurant served a delectable meal.
C2 noun /dɪˈsɛnʃən/

dissension

Meaning
Strong disagreement or difference of opinion, especially leading to discord within a group.
Example
The meeting ended in dissension among the committee members.
C2 noun /ˈdeɪ.ɪs/

Dais

Meaning
a raised platform, typically at one end of a room or hall, for speakers or honored guests
Example
The principal stood on the dais to address the entire school assembly.
C2 verb /drəˈɡuːn/

dragoon

Meaning
to force someone to do something through coercion or intimidation
Example
The manager tried to dragoon the team into working overtime.
C2 noun /draɪd ˈfɛnjʊˌɡriːk livz/

Dried Fenugreek Leaves

Meaning
dehydrated leaves of the fenugreek plant used as a herb in cooking
Example
Add dried fenugreek leaves to the curry for extra flavor.
C2 noun /dɪˈsweɪʒən/

dissuasion

Meaning
The act of persuading someone not to take a course of action.
Example
Her dissuasion prevented him from making a bad investment.
C2 adjective /dɪˈklæməˌtɔri/

declamatory

Meaning
speaking in a loud, rhetorical, or dramatic way
Example
The politician’s declamatory style impressed some but irritated others.