| GRE word list - D |
| dabble |
to work or involve oneself superficially or intermittently
especially in a secondary activity or interest |
| daft |
SILLY, FOOLISH |
| dally |
to act playfully; especially :to play amorously b:to
deal lightly:TOY |
| damp |
MOISTURE, HUMIDITY, DAMPNESS |
| damper |
a dulling or deadening influence |
| dandy |
a man who gives exaggerated attention to personal appearance |
| dank |
unpleasantly moist or wet |
| dapper |
neat and trim in appearance |
| dappled |
marked with small spots or patches contrasting with
the background |
| daredevil |
a recklessly bold person |
| dart |
to move suddenly or rapidly fall |
| dastard |
a person who acts treacherously or underhandedly |
| daunt |
to lessen the courage of:COW, SUBDUE |
| dawdle |
to move lackadaisically |
| deactivate |
to make inactive or ineffective |
| deaden |
to impair in vigor or sensation:BLUNT |
| deadpan |
marked by an impassive matter-of-fact manner, style,
or expression |
| dearth |
an inadequate supply:LACK |
| debark |
To unload, as from a ship or an airplane. |
| debase |
to lower in status, esteem, quality, or character |
| debilitate |
to impair the strength of:ENFEEBLE |
| debonair |
LIGHTHEARTED, NONCHALANT |
| debris |
the remains of something broken down or destroyed |
| debunk |
to expose the sham or falseness of |
| debut |
a first appearance |
| decadence |
the process of becoming decadent:the quality or state
of being decadent |
| decant |
to pour out, transfer, or unload as if by pouring |
| decelerate |
to reduce the speed of:slow down |
| decibel |
a unit for expressing the relative intensity of sounds
on a scale from zero for the average least perceptible
sound to about 130 for the average pain level |
| decipher |
a:to make out the meaning of despite indistinctness
or obscurity b:to interpret the meaning of |
| decode |
to convert (as a coded message) into intelligible form |
| decorum |
propriety and good taste in conduct or appearance |
| decrepit |
wasted and weakened by or as if by the infirmities of
old age |
| dedication |
a devoting or setting aside for a particular purpose |
| default |
a failure to pay financial debts |
| deference |
respect and esteem due a superior or an elder; also:affected
or ingratiating regard for another's wishes |
| deficiency |
an amount that is lacking or inadequate:SHORTAGE |
| defile |
a narrow passage or gorge |
| definitive |
serving to provide a final solution or to end a situation |
| defoliate |
to deprive of leaves especially prematurely |
| deforest |
the action or process of clearing of forests; also :the
state of having been cleared of |
| defraud |
to deprive of something by deception or fraud |
| deft |
characterized by facility and skill |
| defuse |
to make less harmful, potent, or tense |
| defy |
to challenge to do something considered impossible:DARE |
| dehydrate |
to remove bound water or hydrogen and oxygen from (a
chemical compound) in the proportion in which they form
water |
| deify |
To worship or revere as a god |
| deject |
to make gloomy |
| deleterious |
harmful often in a subtle or unexpected way |
| deliberate |
to think about or discuss issues and decisions carefully |
| delicacy |
the quality or state of being dainty:FINENESS |
| delinquent |
offending by neglect or violation of duty or of law |
| deliquesce |
To dissolve gradually and become liquid by absorption
of moisture from the air. |
| delirium |
a mental disturbance characterized by confusion, disordered
speech, and hallucinations |
| delude |
to mislead the mind or judgment of:DECEIVE, TRICK |
| deluge |
adj. an overflowing of the land by water b:a drenching
rain |
| delve |
to make a careful or detailed search for information |
| demagogue |
a leader who makes use of popular prejudices and false
claims and promises in order to gain power |
| demanding |
requiring much time, effort, or attention:EXACTING |
| demise |
DIE, DECEASE |
| demography |
the statistical study of human populations especially
with reference to size and density, distribution, and
vital statistics |
| demolition |
the act of demolishing; especially :destruction in war
by means of explosives |
| demoralize |
a:to weaken the morale of:DISCOURAGE, DISPIRIT b:to
upset or destroy the normal functioning of c:to throw
into disorder |
| demotic |
Of or relating to the common people; popular |
| demur |
to take exception:OBJECT |
| denigrate |
to cast aspersions on:DEFAME |
| denouement |
the final outcome of the main dramatic complication
in a literary work |
| denounce |
to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or
evil |
| dent |
a depression or hollow made by a blow or by pressure |
| denude |
to strip of all covering or surface layers |
| denunciate |
to pronounce especially publicly to be blameworthy or
evil |
| depart |
to go away:LEAVE |
| depict |
to represent by or as if by a picture |
| deplete |
to lessen markedly in quantity, content, power, or value |
| deplore |
to feel or express strong disapproval of; condemn. |
| deploy |
to extend (a military unit) especially in width |
| deportation |
the removal from a country of an alien whose presence
is unlawful or prejudicial |
| depose |
to testify to under oath or by affidavit |
| deposit |
to lay down or leave behind by a natural process |
| depravity |
a corrupt act or practice |
| deprecate |
BELITTLE, DISPARAGE |
| depreciate |
to lower the price or estimated value of |
| depress |
to press down |
| deprivation |
the state of being deprived:PRIVATION; especially :removal
from an office, dignity, or benefice |
| deracinate |
UPROOT |
| derelict |
a destitute homeless social misfit:VAGRANT, BUM |
| deride |
to subject to usually bitter or contemptuous ridicule |
| derivative |
lacking originality:BANAL |
| derogatory |
expressive of a low opinion:DISPARAGING |
| descendant |
one deriving directly from a precursor or prototype |
| descent |
an inclination downward:SLOPE |
| desecrate |
to violate the sanctity of:PROFANE |
| desert |
to withdraw from or leave usually without intent to
return |
| desiccate |
to preserve (a food) by drying:DEHYDRATE |
| designate |
appointed to a job (but not yet having officially started
it) |
| despair |
to lose all hope or confidence |
| despicable |
deserving to be despised:so worthless or obnoxious as
to rouse moral indignation |
| despise |
to look down on with contempt or aversion |
| despondent |
feeling or showing extreme discouragement, dejection,
or depression |
| dessert |
a usually sweet course or dish (as of pastry or ice
cream) served at the end of a meal |
| desultory |
disappointing in progress or performance:SLUGGISH |
| detach |
to separate especially from a larger mass and usually
without violence or damage |
| detain |
to hold or keep in or as if in custody |
| deter |
to turn aside, discourage, or prevent from acting |
| detestable |
arousing or meriting intense dislike:ABOMINABLE |
| detour |
to send by a circuitous route |
| detract |
to diminish the importance, value, or effectiveness
of something |
| detritus |
a product of disintegration, destruction, or wearing
away |
| deviation |
noticeable or marked departure from accepted norms of
behavior |
| devise |
to form in the mind by new combinations or application
of and ideas or principles |
| devolve |
deputize; pass to others |
| devoted |
devote:to give over or direct (as time, money, or effort)
to a cause, enterprise, or activity |
| devout |
devoted to religion or to religious duties or exercises |
| dew |
moisture condensed upon the surfaces of cool bodies
especially at night |
| dexterous |
mentally adroit and skillful:CLEVER |
| diabolic |
of, relating to, or characteristic of the devil:DEVILIS |
| diabolize |
To represent as diabolical |
| diagnose |
to recognize (as a disease) by signs and symptoms |
| diaphanous |
characterized by such fineness of texture as to permit
seeing through |
| diatribe |
a bitter and abusive speech or writing |
| didactic |
designed or intended to teach |
| die |
any of various tools or devices for imparting a desired
shape, form, or finish to a material or for impressing
an object or material |
| diehard |
strongly or fanatically determined or devoted |
| diffident |
hesitant in acting or speaking through lack of self-confidence |
| diffuse |
being at once verbose and ill-organized |
| digit |
A human finger or toe. |
| dignity |
quality or state of being worthy, honored, or esteemed |
| digress |
to turn aside especially from the main subject of attention
or course of argument |
| dilapidate |
to bring into a condition of decay or partial ruin |
| dilate |
to enlarge or expand in bulk or extent:DISTEND, WIDEN |
| dilatory |
characterized by procrastination:TARDY |
| dilettante |
a person having a superficial interest in an art or
a branch of knowledge:DABBLER |
| diligent |
characterized by steady, earnest, and energetic effort:PAINSTAKING |
| dilute |
to diminish the strength, flavor, or brilliance of by
admixture |
| dimension |
measurement of any sort |
| diminish |
to make or become smaller ,less, or less important |
| din |
a loud continued noise; especially :a welter of discordant
sounds |
| dingus |
an ornamental attachment or decoration:DOODAD |
| dingy |
SHABBY, SQUALID |
| diocesan |
a bishop having jurisdiction over a diocese |
| diplomatic |
of or engaged in diplomacy; tactful or suave |
| dire |
DISMAL, OPPRESSIVE |
| dirge |
a song or hymn of grief or lamentation; especially :one
intended to accompany funeral or memorial rites |
| disabuse |
to free from error, fallacy, or misconception |
| disaffected |
discontented and resentful especially against authority
REBELLIOUS |
| disagreeable |
causing discomfort:UNPLEASANT, OFFENSIVE |
| disarm |
to deprive of means, reason, or disposition to be hostile |
| disarray |
(n.) (state of) disorder |
| disavow |
to deny responsibility for:REPUDIATE |
| discard |
to get rid of especially as useless or unpleasant |
| discernible |
distinguishable; perceivable |
| discerning |
showing insight and understanding:DISCRIMINATING |
| discharge |
to dismiss from employment |
| disciple |
one who accepts and assists in spreading the doctrines
of another |
| discipline |
a rule or system of rules governing conduct or activity |
| disclaim |
to renounce a legal claim to |
| discography |
a descriptive list of phonograph records by category,
composer, performer, or date of release |
| discombobulate |
to confuse or disconcert |
| discomfit |
to put into a state of perplexity and embarrassment:DISCONCERT |
| discommode |
to cause inconvenience to:TROUBLE |
| discompose |
to destroy the composure of |
| disconcert |
to throw into confusion |
| discord |
lack of agreement or harmony (as between persons, things,
or ideas) |
| discourse |
formal and orderly and usually extended expression of
thought on a subject |
| discredit |
to deprive of good repute:DISGRACE |
| discrepancy |
Divergence or disagreement, as between facts or claims;
difference. |
| discrete |
(adj.) separate; individually distinct; composed of
distinct parts |
| discretion |
the quality of being discreet:CIRCUMSPECTION; especially
:cautious reserve in speech frivolous |
| discretionary |
left to discretion:exercised at one's own discretion |
| discriminate |
to mark or perceive the distinguishing or peculiar features
of |
| discursive |
moving from topic to topic without order:RAMBLING |
| disdain |
a feeling of contempt for what is beneath one:SCORN |
| disembody |
To free (the soul or spirit) from the body |
| disengage |
to release from something that engages or involves |
| disentangle |
(v.) to free from confusion |
| disgorge |
to discharge by the throat and mouth:VOMIT |
| disgruntle |
to make ill-humored or discontented , usually used as
a participial adjective |
| disguise |
to furnish with a false appearance or an assumed identity |
| disgust |
marked aversion aroused by something highly distasteful:REPUGNANCE |
| dishevel |
to throw into disorder or disarray |
| disinclination |
a preference for avoiding something:slight aversion |
| disinfect |
to free from infection especially by destroying harmful
microorganisms |
| disinterested |
free from selfish motive or interest:UNBIASED |
| disjunctive |
marked by breaks or disunity |
| dismantle |
to take to pieces; also :to destroy the integrity or
functioning of |
| disparage |
to depreciate by indirect means (as invidious comparison):speak
slightingly about |
| disparate |
containing or made up of fundamentally different and
often incongruous elements |
| dispassionate |
not influenced by strong feeling; especially :not affected
by personal or emotional involvement |
| dispatch |
promptness and efficiency in performance or transmission |
| disposal |
systematic destruction; especially :destruction or transformation
of garbage |
| disquiet |
to take away the peace or tranquillity of:DISTURB, ALARM |
| disregard |
pay no attention to treat (sth) as of no importance;
ignore |
| disrupt |
to throw into disorder |
| dissect |
to analyze and interpret minutely |
| dissemble |
to put on a false appearance:conceal facts, intentions,
or feelings under some pretense |
| disseminate |
to spread abroad as though sowing seed |
| dissension |
DISAGREEMENT; especially:partisan and contentious quarreling |
| dissent |
to withhold assent |
| dissertation |
an extended usually written treatment of a subject;
specifically :one submitted for a doctorate |
| dissipate |
dispel; squander |
| dissociate |
to separate from association or union with another |
| dissolute |
lacking restraint; especially :marked by indulgence
in things |
| dissolve |
to cause to pass into solution to separate into component
parts:DISINTEGRATE |
| dissonance |
lack of agreement; especially :inconsistency between
the beliefs one holds or between one's actions and one's
beliefs |
| dissuade |
to advise (a person) against something |
| distention |
the act of distending or the state of being distended
especially unduly or abnormally |
| distillation |
the process of purifying a liquid by successive evaporation
and condensation |
| distinction |
the quality or state of being distinguishable |
| distinguished |
marked by eminence, distinction, or excellence |
| distort |
to twist out of the true meaning or proportion |
| distract |
to draw or direct (as one's attention) to a different
object or in different directions at the same time |
| distraught |
agitated with doubt or mental conflict |
| distress |
great pain/cause discomfort |
| district |
|
| ditch |
a long narrow excavation dug in the earth |
| ditty |
an especially simple and unaffected song |
| diurnal |
of, relating to, or occurring in the daytime |
| diver |
part of a country or town having a particular quality |
| diverge |
to move or extend in different directions from a common
point:draw apart |
| divert |
to turn from one course or use to another:DEFLECT |
| divestiture |
the act of divesting |
| divulge |
to make known (as a confidence or secret) |
| doctrine |
a principle or position or the body of principles in
a branch of knowledge or system of belief:DOGMA |
| dodder |
to progress feebly and unsteadily |
| doff |
to remove (an article of wear) from the body |
| dogged |
marked by stubborn determination |
| doggerel |
loosely styled and irregular in measure especially for
burlesque or comic effect; also:marked by triviality or
inferiority |
| doggo |
in hiding |
| dogma |
something held as an established opinion;especially:a
definite authoritative tenet |
| doldrums |
state or period of inactivity, stagnation, or slump |
| dolorous |
causing, marked by, or expressing misery or grief |
| dolt |
a stupid person |
| domicile |
a dwelling place:place of residence:HOME |
| domination |
supremacy or preeminence over another |
| don |
to put on (an article of clothing) |
| donor |
one that gives, donates, or presents something |
| doodle |
an aimless or casual scribble, design, or sketch |
| dour |
STERN, HARSH |
| downpour |
a pouring or streaming downward; especially:a heavy
rain |
| doyen |
a:the senior member of a body or group b:a person considered
to be knowledgeable or uniquely skilled as a result of
long experience in some field of endeavor |
| doze |
to fall into a light sleep |
| draconian |
CRUEL; also:SEVERE |
| drain |
to exhaust physically or emotionally |
| drawl |
to utter in a slow lengthened tone |
| dreary |
having nothing likely to provide cheer, comfort, or
interest:GLOOMY, DISMAL |
| drench |
to wet thoroughly (as by soaking or immersing in liquid) |
| drivel |
to utter in an infantile or imbecilic way |
| drizzle |
a fine misty rain |
| droll |
having a humorous, whimsical, or odd quality |
| drone |
to speak in a monotonous tone: |
| droplet |
a tiny drop (as of a liquid) |
| drudgery |
dull, irksome, and fatiguing work:uninspiring or menial
labor |
| dubious |
questionable or suspect as to true nature or quality |
| dulcet |
pleasing to the ear |
| dull |
lacking brilliance or luster |
| dullard |
a stupid or unimaginative person |
| dune |
a hill or ridge of sand piled up by the wind |
| dupe |
one that is easily deceived or cheated:FOOL |
| dwelling |
a shelter (as a house) in which people live |
| dyspeptic |
INDIGESTION |
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