duo
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B2 noun /ˈdjuːəʊ/

duo

Meaning
a pair of people or things, especially in music or entertainment
Example
The musical duo performed their latest hit at the concert.
B2 noun /duːm/

doom

Meaning
A terrible fate, destruction, or unavoidable bad outcome.
Example
The ancient prophecy foretold the city’s doom.
C1 verb /dɪsˈsætɪsfaɪ/

dissatisfy

Meaning
to fail to please or meet expectations; to make someone unhappy
Example
The poor service dissatisfies many customers.
A2 noun /daʊt/

Doubt

Meaning
a feeling of uncertainty or lack of conviction; distrust or suspicion
Example
There was no doubt in her mind that she had made the right decision.
C2 noun /ˈdɛθsˌhɛd/

deaths-head

Meaning
A representation of a human skull, often used as a symbol of death.
Example
The pirate flag was marked with a grim deaths-head.
C1 adjective /ˈdiːviəs/

devious

Meaning
Skillful at using underhanded tactics to achieve goals; not straightforward.
Example
He used a devious plan to gain control of the company.
C1 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈreɪ/

disarray

Meaning
A state of disorganization or untidiness; confusion or disorder.
Example
His desk was in complete disarray.
C2 noun /dɪˌsɪdəˈreɪtəm/

desideratum

Meaning
something that is desired or considered necessary
Example
For many students, financial aid is a desideratum.
A2 noun /drʌɡ/

drug

Meaning
a substance used as a medicine or an illegal addictive substance
Example
The doctor prescribed a new drug for the illness.
A2 verb /draɪv/

drive

Meaning
to control and move a vehicle; to force someone to move
Example
I will drive to work tomorrow morning.
B2 adjective /dɪˈtætʃt/

detached

Meaning
separate or disconnected; showing a lack of emotional involvement
Example
He lived in a detached house away from the city.
C2 adjective /djuːˈplɪsɪtəs/

duplicitous

Meaning
Deceitful; deliberately deceptive or dishonest.
Example
The politician was criticized for his duplicitous statements.
C1 noun /dɪˈmiːnər/

demeanour

Meaning
a person's outward behavior or appearance
Example
Her calm demeanour impressed everyone during the meeting.
C1 adjective dɪˈskrɪmɪnətɔːri

discriminatory

Meaning
Making or showing an unfair or prejudicial distinction between different categories of people or things.
Example
Discriminatory policies triggered protests.
C1 adjective /ˌdɪsɪnˈdʒɛnjʊəs/

disingenuous

Meaning
not candid or sincere; giving a false appearance of honesty or openness
Example
She gave a disingenuous excuse for missing the meeting.
C2 noun /ˌdɪfəˈrɛnʃə/

differentia

Meaning
A distinguishing characteristic that sets one thing apart from another.
Example
The differentia of humans is their ability to reason abstractly.
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.
C2 verb /ˌdɪskəmˈpoʊz/

discompose

Meaning
To disturb the order or calmness of something or someone.
Example
The unexpected question seemed to discompose her.
C1 adjective /dɪˈfaɪənt/

Defiant

Meaning
boldly resistant or challenging; disobedient
Example
The defiant student refused to follow the rules.
C1 noun ˈdɛtrɪ.mənt

detriment

Meaning
Harm, damage, impairment.
Example
Smoking is a detriment to health.
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.
B2 noun ˈdɒmɪnəns

dominance

Meaning
Power and influence over others; control or command.
Example
The dominance of Urdu was evident.
B2 noun/verb /dɪˈvɔːrs/

divorce

Meaning
the legal ending of a marriage; to officially end a marriage
Example
After years of conflict, they decided to get a divorce.
B1 adjective /drʌŋk/

drunk

Meaning
affected by alcohol to the point of losing control of one's faculties or behavior
Example
He was too drunk to walk straight.
C2 noun /ˌdaɪvəˈɡeɪʃən/

divagation

Meaning
digression; wandering from a path or subject
Example
His lecture was full of divagation, making it hard to follow the main point.
B2 adjective /dɪˈvaɪn/

Divine

Meaning
heavenly; sacred; godlike; relating to God or a deity
Example
The divine beauty of the sunset took their breath away.
C2 noun /dɪsˈtɛmpər/

distemper

Meaning
a viral disease affecting animals, especially dogs; also refers to a state of disorder
Example
The dog was diagnosed with distemper and needed immediate care.
C1 verb /daɪˈleɪt/

dilate

Meaning
To make wider, larger, or more open.
Example
The doctor used drops to dilate the patient's pupils.
A2 noun /ˈdæm.ɪdʒ/

Damage

Meaning
physical harm caused to something; injury or harm that reduces value or usefulness
Example
The storm caused significant damage to the coastal buildings.
C2 adjective /dɪˈlɛktəbl̩/

delectable

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

deviltry

Meaning
Cruel or malicious behavior; mischief with an evil aspect.
Example
The villain’s deviltry terrified the townsfolk.
C1 noun /ˈdaɪnəˌmoʊ/

dynamo

Meaning
A machine that generates electricity; a person with great energy and enthusiasm.
Example
She is the real dynamo behind the success of the company.
B2 verb /dæʃ/

dash

Meaning
to move quickly and suddenly; to strike or break something violently
Example
She dashed across the street to catch the bus.
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 /ˈdeɪ.mæn/

day-man

Meaning
a worker employed by the day; a day laborer
Example
The farmer hired a day-man to help with the harvest.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈpɛptɪk/

dyspeptic

Meaning
Relating to indigestion or having a gloomy or irritable disposition.
Example
After the heavy meal, he felt dyspeptic and uncomfortable.
C1 noun /ˌdɛtəˈneɪʃən/

detonation

Meaning
The act of exploding or causing something to explode.
Example
The sudden detonation shook the entire building.
C2 verb /ˈdʌv.teɪl/

dovetail

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

dormer

Meaning
A window that projects vertically from a sloping roof.
Example
The old house had a dormer overlooking the garden.
B2 noun /dɪˈsper/

Despair

Meaning
the complete loss or absence of hope; a state of feeling hopeless
Example
After losing his job, he fell into despair and couldn't see any way forward.
C1 noun, adjective /dɪˈrɪvətɪv/

derivative

Meaning
Something that is based on another source; in math, a measure of how a function changes.
Example
The film was criticized for being too derivative of earlier works.
B1 verb /dræɡ/

drag

Meaning
to pull something heavy or difficult to move along the ground; to go somewhere unwillingly; to last too long
Example
She had to drag the heavy suitcase up the stairs.
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.
C1 noun /dɜːrθ/

dearth

Meaning
A scarcity or lack of something.
Example
There was a dearth of food during the famine.
C2 verb /dɒf/

doff

Meaning
to take off an item of clothing, especially a hat, as a sign of respect
Example
He doffed his hat as the procession passed.
B2 adverb /ˈdɛspərətli/

desperately

Meaning
in a way that shows despair or great need
Example
He called for help desperately after the accident.
C1 noun /dɪˈlɪriəm/

delirium

Meaning
An acutely disturbed state of mind characterized by restlessness, illusions, and incoherence.
Example
The patient experienced delirium after the surgery due to the strong medication.
C1 noun dɪˈpliː.ʃən

depletion

Meaning
The gradual reduction or exhaustion of a resource or substance.
Example
Overuse of groundwater leads to depletion of water resources.
B1 noun /dɪsk/

disk

Meaning
a flat, circular object, often used to store data electronically
Example
All the data is saved on a hard disk.
C1 noun /dɪˈfen.dənt/

Defendant

Meaning
an individual, company, or institution sued or accused in a court of law
Example
The defendant pleaded not guilty to all charges brought against him.
B2 noun /dɪsˈɡaɪz/

Disguise

Meaning
a means of altering one's appearance to conceal one's identity; something that hides the truth
Example
The spy wore an elaborate disguise to avoid being recognized by enemies.
B2 noun /ˌdek.ləˈreɪ.ʃən/

Declaration

Meaning
a formal or explicit statement or announcement; an official proclamation
Example
The president's declaration of independence marked a historic moment for the nation.
C2 verb /dɪˈpreɪv/

deprave

Meaning
to corrupt morally; to make someone immoral or wicked
Example
The novel was criticized for attempting to deprave the minds of young readers.
C1 adjective /diːˈsɛntrəlaɪzd/

decentralized

Meaning
Controlled by several local offices or authorities rather than one single one.
Example
The decentralized system allowed for more control at local levels.
C2 verb /dɪˈræsɪˌneɪt/

deracinate

Meaning
To uproot something completely; to displace people from their native environment or culture.
Example
The conflict deracinated many families from their homeland.
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.
B2 noun /dɪˈpen.dəns/

Dependence

Meaning
the state of relying on or needing someone or something for support; addiction
Example
His dependence on technology made it difficult for him to work without internet.
C1 noun /dɪˈpɑːzətɔːri/

depository

Meaning
a place where things are stored or deposited, especially financial assets
Example
The national depository safeguards all government bonds.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɪd.ju.əs/

deciduous

Meaning
Referring to trees that shed their leaves seasonally, typically in autumn.
Example
Oak and maple trees are deciduous, shedding leaves in autumn.
B1 noun /dɪˈbeɪts/

debates

Meaning
Formal discussions where different viewpoints are presented and argued.
Example
Debates on governance lasted throughout the session.
B2 noun /dɪˈkeɪ/

Decay

Meaning
the process of rotting or decomposing; gradual decline or deterioration
Example
The old building showed signs of decay after years of neglect.
A2 noun /ˈdɪfərəns/

difference

Meaning
A point or way in which things are not the same.
Example
There is a big difference between theory and practice.
C1 noun /dɪˈfɪʃ.ən.si/

Deficiency

Meaning
a lack or shortage of something; inadequacy or insufficiency
Example
The doctor diagnosed a vitamin D deficiency in the patient's blood test.
C1 verb /ˌdɪsɪmˈbɑːrk/

disembark

Meaning
To leave a ship, aircraft, or other vehicle.
Example
The passengers disembarked from the plane after landing.
C2 verb /dɪsˈpɔːrt/

disport

Meaning
To amuse oneself in a lively or playful way.
Example
The children disported themselves in the garden.
B2 adjective /dɪˈstrɛst/

distressed

Meaning
feeling or showing extreme anxiety, sorrow, or pain
Example
She looked distressed after hearing the bad news.
B2 noun /dɪˈstrækʃənz/

distractions

Meaning
Things that prevent someone from concentrating on something else.
Example
Eliminate distractions for better productivity.
C2 adjective /dɪˈmoʊniˌæk/

demoniac

Meaning
possessed, produced, or influenced by a demon; frenzied or violent
Example
The soldiers fought with demoniac fury.
C2 adjective /dɪsˈkɒnsələt/

disconsolate

Meaning
very unhappy and unable to be comforted
Example
She was disconsolate after hearing the bad news.
C1 noun /ˈderˌdevəl/

daredevil

Meaning
A person who enjoys doing dangerous or risky things.
Example
The stunt was performed by a famous daredevil.
C1 noun ˈdɪk.ʃən

diction

Meaning
The style of pronunciation and word choice in speaking or writing.
Example
A strong diction enhances communication skills.
B2 verb /doʊz/

doze

Meaning
To sleep lightly for a short time.
Example
He dozed off while reading the book.
A2 noun /ˈdrɔːɪŋ/

drawing

Meaning
a picture or diagram made with a pencil, pen, or crayons rather than paint
Example
She showed me a drawing of her house.
C2 adjective /daɪˈæfənəs/

diaphanous

Meaning
Light, delicate, and translucent.
Example
She wore a diaphanous dress that shimmered in the sunlight.
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.
B2 noun /dɪˈtɜːrdʒənt/

detergent

Meaning
a substance used for cleaning, especially for washing clothes and dishes
Example
She bought a new brand of detergent for laundry.
C1 noun /ˈdrɛsˌmeɪkər/

dressmaker

Meaning
A person who makes or alters women's clothing professionally.
Example
The dressmaker crafted a beautiful gown for the bride.
C1 adjective /ˈdɒɡɪd/

dogged

Meaning
showing stubborn determination and persistence
Example
She succeeded through dogged determination.
B2 noun /ˌdɪs.əˈbɪl.ə.ti/

Disability

Meaning
a physical or mental condition that limits a person's movements, senses, or activities
Example
Despite his physical disability, he became a successful athlete in wheelchair racing.
B2 noun /dɪsˈɡreɪs/

Disgrace

Meaning
loss of reputation or respect as the result of a dishonorable action; a shameful situation
Example
His arrest brought disgrace upon his entire family and reputation.
C2 adjective /ˈdɪlətɔːri/

dilatory

Meaning
Tending to cause delay; slow to act.
Example
The committee was criticized for its dilatory response to the crisis.
C1 adjective /ˈdaʊn.kæst/

downcast

Meaning
feeling sad, dejected, or with lowered eyes
Example
He looked downcast after hearing the bad news.
C2 verb /diːˈnæʃənəlaɪz/

denationalize

Meaning
to transfer ownership from the government to private individuals or companies
Example
The government decided to denationalize the bank to encourage private investment.
C2 adjective /dɪˈstreɪ/

distrait

Meaning
deeply distracted or absent-minded, often due to worry or grief
Example
He looked distrait after hearing the sad news.
C2 noun /dɪˈpɑːzɪtər/

depositor

Meaning
a person who places money in a bank or financial institution
Example
The bank provides insurance to protect depositors’ funds.
C1 adjective /dɪˈpreɪvd/

depraved

Meaning
morally corrupt or wicked
Example
The film depicts the life of a depraved criminal.
B2 verb /dɪˈpraɪv/

deprive

Meaning
to take something away from someone, or prevent them from having it
Example
The new law may deprive people of their rights.
A2 verb /dəˈrɛkt/ or /daɪˈrɛkt/

direct

Meaning
to manage or control the course of something; to give instructions
Example
She directed the team to complete the project on time.
C1 noun /dɪˈluːʒən/

delusion

Meaning
A false belief or impression maintained despite being contradicted by reality.
Example
He lived under the delusion that he was invincible.
C1 verb /druːp/

droop

Meaning
to bend or hang downward; to become weak or tired
Example
The flowers began to droop in the heat.
C1 noun/verb /dɪsˈdeɪn/

disdain

Meaning
The feeling that someone or something is unworthy of respect; to regard with contempt.
Example
She looked at the messy room with open disdain.
B2 noun dɪˈplɔɪmənt

deployment

Meaning
The action of bringing resources into effective action.
Example
The deployment of the new software was completed successfully.
C1 noun /dɪˈprɛsənt/

depressant

Meaning
A drug that reduces functional or nervous activity in the body.
Example
Alcohol acts as a depressant on the central nervous system.
B2 adjective /ˈdaʊt.fəl/

Doubtful

Meaning
uncertain; questionable; feeling uncertain about something
Example
I am doubtful about the success of this project.
A2 noun /ˈdɒŋ.ki/

Donkey

Meaning
a domesticated animal related to the horse, with long ears and a braying call
Example
The donkey carried heavy bags up the mountain.
C2 noun /ˈdaɪətraɪb/

diatribe

Meaning
A forceful and bitter verbal attack against someone or something.
Example
The politician launched a diatribe against his opponents.
C1 adjective /ˈdɛkədənt/

decadent

Meaning
Characterized by or reflecting a state of moral or cultural decline; excessively self-indulgent.
Example
The party was filled with decadent luxury and excess.
B2 verb /ˈdæzəl/

dazzle

Meaning
to impress deeply or blind with brilliance or skill
Example
The magician's tricks dazzled the audience.
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.
C1 verb /ˈdiːmɑːrˌkeɪt/

demarcate

Meaning
to set the boundaries or limits of something
Example
The land was demarcated with fences to avoid disputes.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪˈpeɪʃən/

dissipation

Meaning
the process of disappearing or wasting; excessive indulgence in pleasure
Example
The dissipation of his fortune left him in poverty.
C1 adjective /ˈdek.stər.əs/

dexterous

Meaning
Showing or having skill, especially with the hands; mentally adroit and skillful.
Example
A dexterous programmer can write complex codes effortlessly.
B1 adjective /ˈdaɪɪŋ/

Dying

Meaning
approaching death; in the process of dying; fading away
Example
The dying plant needs water immediately.
C1 noun dɛkˈstɛr.ɪ.ti

dexterity

Meaning
Skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands; mental skill or adroitness.
Example
His dexterity in playing the piano amazed the audience.
C1 noun ˈdɛf.ər.əns

deference

Meaning
Humble submission and respect.
Example
He showed deference to his elderly mentor.
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 adjective /dɪˈdjuːsəbl/

deducible

Meaning
able to be deduced; possible to be inferred
Example
The solution is deducible from the data provided.
C2 noun /ˈdɛsɪkənt/

desiccant

Meaning
a substance that absorbs moisture and keeps things dry
Example
Silica gel packets are commonly used as a desiccant in packaging.
B1 verb /daɪn/

dine

Meaning
to eat a meal, especially the main meal of the day
Example
We usually dine at seven o'clock in the evening.
C2 noun /dɪˈkrɛpɪˌtjuːd/

decrepitude

Meaning
the state of being old, weak, and worn out
Example
The once-great empire fell into decrepitude.
B1 verb /ˈdɛmənˌstreɪt/

demonstrate

Meaning
to clearly show or prove something through evidence, explanation, or action
Example
The teacher demonstrated the experiment to the class.
C1 adjective /dɪˈsɜːrnɪŋ/

discerning

Meaning
having good judgment or insight; able to distinguish well
Example
He is a discerning reader who notices subtle details.
A2 verb /ˈdraɪvɪŋ/

driving

Meaning
the act of controlling and operating a vehicle; guiding or motivating something forward
Example
She loves driving along the coast on weekends.
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 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.
C1 noun ˌdep.əˈzɪʃ.ən

deposition

Meaning
The action of depositing something; the laying down of matter by a natural process.
Example
River deposition leads to the formation of new landmasses.
C2 noun /ˌdɪsɪnklɪˈneɪʃən/

disinclination

Meaning
a lack of willingness or desire to do something
Example
She showed a clear disinclination to join the meeting.
C1 noun dɪˈskrep.ən.siz

discrepancies

Meaning
Differences between things that should be the same
Example
Discrepancies in regulations delay progress.
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.
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.
B2 noun /diːp ˈkʌlər/

Deep colour

Meaning
a rich, intense, or dark shade of any color
Example
The artist used deep colours to create a dramatic effect.