GRE Vocabulary Cartoons: D Words

daunt

to overcome with fear, intimidate; to dishearten, discourage

(verb) to intimidate or discourage

dearth

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

(noun) lack

debacle

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

(noun) a complete failure

debased

(adj) reduced in quality or value; degraded

(adj) lowed in value or reputation

debauchery

excessive indulgence in sensual pleasures

(noun) extreme indulgence in pleasure

debilitate

(verb) to weaken

decadent

decaying or decayed, especially in terms of morals

(adj.) decaying

decimate

to destroy or kill a large part of

(verb) to destroy a large part of

declaimed

spoke loudly and self-importantly

(verb) spoke loudly and dramatically

decorous

proper; in good taste

(adj.) well behaved

decrepit

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

(adj.) worn-out

decried

publicly denounce; criticized

(verb) criticized; express string disapproval about

defamatory

harmful toward another's reputation

(adj.) something that hurts someone’s reputation

defenestrate

toss out the window

(verb) throw out the window

defunct

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

degenerate

to break down; to deteriorate

1. (verb) decay

2. (adj.) decayed

delectable

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

(adj.) delicious

deleterious

(adj.) harmful

delimit

determine the limits or boundaries of

(verb) determine limit

delineate

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

(v.) to outline; to describe in detail

demagogue

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

(noun) a leader who gains power by trickery

demarcate

(verb) set the boundaries or limits of

demean

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

(verb) to lower reputation

demeanor

behavior; manner of conducting oneself

(noun) one’s appearance and behaviour

demotic

(adj.) relating to ordinary people

Mnemonic: dem(people)

demur

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

denigrate

to attack the reputation of; to speak ill of

(verb) to belittle or defame

denizen

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

(noun) inhabitant

denuded

(verb) stripped bare

depiction

A graphic or vivid verbal description

(noun) a representation

deplete

(verb) to use up

deplore

(v.) to feel or express regret or disapproval

(verb) to hate

depredate

to plunder, pillage, ravage, or destroy

(verb) to take by force

deride

(verb) to ridicule, laugh at with contempt

(verb) to make fun of

derivative

(adj.) unoriginal; taken from something already existing

descry

(verb) to catch sight of

desecrate

(verb) to violate the sacredness of a thing or place

desiccate

(verb) to dry out; to remove moisture

despoiled

having been robbed and destroyed by force and violence

(verb) steal or violently remove valuable possessions from; plunder

(verb) stripped of value

despot

A dictator with absolute power; a tyrant

(noun) an all powerful ruler; a tyrant

deteriorate

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

(verb) to worsen over time

(verb) to degrade

devoid

(adj.) lacking

devolve

(verb) to become less advanced over time

(verb) to degrade

devout

(adj.) deeply religious

dexterity

(adj.) skill in performing tasks, especially with the hands

diabolical

(adj.) devilish

diaphanous

very sheer and light; almost completely transparent

(adj.) light, delicate, and see-through.

diatribe

(n.) a bitter and prolonged verbal attack

(noun) an angry speech

dichotomy

Two opposite parts of one whole

(noun) a contrast between two things

didactic

(adj.) intended to teach

diffident

(adj.) shy, lacking self-confidence; modest, reserved

digression

(noun) a departure from the main topic

dilatory

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

(adj.) tending to procastinate

dilettante

someone with an amateurish and superficial interest in a topic

(noun) one with superficial knowledge of an area

dilute

To make a liquid less concentrated

(verb) to lessen the concentration of

dint

(noun) force, power

dire

(adj.) desparate

disconcert

(verb) to frustrate; confuse

(verb)to unsettle

discomfit

(verb) to embarrass and confuse

discreet

showing tact, respect, and restraint in speech or behavior

(adj.) having or showing self-restraint and good judgement

discrepancy

(noun) a difference; disagreement

discrete

(adj.) Distinct, separate

discriminate

to make a clear distinction

(verb) to notice subtle variations

disgruntled

(adj.) angry or dissatisfied

dismantle

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

(verb) to take apart

dismissive

Showing little regard

(adj.) showing rejection and contempt for

disparage

(verb) to belittle, speak slightingly of; to undervalue

(verb) to belittle

Mnemonic: dis(not) +par(equal)

disparate

fundamentally distinct or dissimilar

(adj.) different

dispassionate

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

(adj.) not passionate

dispatch

(noun) speed

displacing

(verb) moving

disputatious

inclined to argue or debate; provoking debate

(adj.) inclined to argue

dissemble

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

(v.) to mislead, hide or conceal

disseminate

(verb) to scatter or spread widely

distention

(noun) swelling

dither

(verb) to be indecisive

diurnal

(adj.) daily; of the daytime

divergent

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

(adj.) moving in different directions

divisive

(adj.) creating disunity or conflict

docile

(adj.) calm

doctrinaire

(adj.) rigidly devoted to theories without regard for practicality; dogmatic

(adj.) rigid and dogmatic

doggedness

(noun) persistence, stubbornness, determination

doggerel

poor verse; bad writing

(noun) poorly written verse

dogmatic

stubbornly opinionated

(adj.) stubborn

dolorous

(adj.) feeling or expressing great sorrow or distress

(adj.) sad; mournful

dormant

inactive; in a state of suspension; sleeping

(adj.) temporarily inactive

dour

stern, unyielding, gloomy, ill-humored

(adj.) stern

draconian

hard, severe, cruel

(adj.) cruelly strict

droll

amusing in an odd or whimsical way

(adj.) funny in an odd way

dubious

(adj.) doubtful

dupe

to deceive, to trick

(verb) to trick

duplicitous

deliberately deceptive, deceitful

(adj.) deceitful

dwindle

to lessen, diminish

(verb) to gradually become smaller

dyspeptic

1. (adj.) Grumpy, pessimistic, irritable;

2. (adj.) suffering from dyspepsia (indigestion)