GRE Vocabulary Cartoons: D Words

daunt

to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage

dearth

(n.) a lack, scarcity, inadequate supply; a famine

debacle

(n.) an overwhelming defeat, rout; a complete collapse or failure

debased

(adj) reduced in quality or value; degraded

debauchery

excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures

debilitate

to weaken

decadent

decaying or decayed, especially in terms of morals

decimate

to destroy or kill a large part of

declaimed

spoke loudly and self-importantly

decorous

proper; in good taste

decrepit

(adj.) old and feeble; worn-out, ruined

decried

publicly denounce; criticized

defamatory

harmful toward another's reputation

defenestrate

toss out the window

defunct

(adj.) no longer in existence or functioning, dead

degenerate

to break down; to deteriorate

delectable

(adj.) delightful, highly enjoyable; deliciously flavored, savory

deleterious

harmful

delimit

determine the limits or boundaries of

delineate

(v.) to portray, sketch, or describe in accurate and vivid detail; to represent pictorially

demagogue

(n.) a leader who exploits popular prejudices and false claims and promises in order to gain power

demarcate

set the boundaries or limits of

demean

To cause a lowering of self-esteem; to lower in reputation or character.

demeanor

behavior; manner of conducting oneself

demotic

relating to ordinary people

demur

(v.) to object or take exception to; (n.) an objection

denigrate

to attack the reputation of; to speak ill of

denizen

(n.) an inhabitant, resident; one who frequents a place

denuded

stripped bare

depiction

A graphic or vivid verbal description

deplete

to use up

deplore

(v.) to feel or express regret or disapproval

depredate

to plunder, pillage, ravage, or destroy

deride

to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

derivative

unoriginal; taken from something already existing

descry

to catch sight of

desecrate

to violate the sacredness of a thing or place

desiccate

to dry out; to remove moisture

despoiled

having been robbed and destroyed by force and violence

despot

A dictator with absolute power; a tyrant

deteriorate

(v.) to lower in quality or value; to wear away

devoid

lacking

devolve

to become less advanced over time

devout

deeply religious

dexterity

skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands

diabolical

devilish

diaphanous

very sheer and light; almost completely transparent

diatribe

(n.) a bitter and prolonged verbal attack

dichotomy

Two opposite parts of one whole

didactic

intended to teach

diffident

shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

digression

straying from main point

dilatory

(adj.) tending to delay or procrastinate, not prompt; intended to delay or postpone

dilettante

someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

dilute

To make a liquid less concentrated

dint

force, power

dire

desparate

disconcert

to frustrate; confuse

discomfit

to embarrass and confuse

discreet

showing tact, respect, and restraint in speech or behavior

discrepancy

a difference; a lack of agreement

discrete

Distinct, separate

discriminate

to make a clear distinction

disgruntled

angry or dissatisfied

dismantle

(v.) to take apart; to strip of something

dismissive

Showing little regard

disparage

to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue

disparate

fundamentally distinct or dissimilar

dispassionate

not influenced by strong emotion, and so able to be rational and impartial

dispatch

speed

displacing

moving

disputatious

inclined to argue or debate; provoking debate

dissemble

(v.) to disguise or conceal, deliberately give a false impression

disseminate

to scatter or spread widely

distention

swelling

dither

to be indecisive

diurnal

daily; of the daytime

divergent

(adj.) going in different directions; different from each other; departing from conversation, deviant

divisive

creating disunity or conflict

docile

calm

doctrinaire

rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic

doggedness

persistence, stubbornness, determination

doggerel

poor verse; bad writing

dogmatic

stubbornly opinionated

dolorous

feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress

dormant

inactive; in a state of suspension; sleeping

dour

stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

draconian

hard, severe, cruel

droll

amusing in an odd or whimsical way

dubious

doubtful

dupe

to deceive, to trick

duplicitous

deliberately deceptive, deceitful

dwindle

to lessen, diminish

dyspeptic

Grumpy, pessimistic, irritable; suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion)