Sat D words

dearth

Scarcity or lack of something

debacle

A Sudden, large failure

debase

reduce something in quality or value; to degrade

debauch

Destroy the moral purity of; to corrupt

debunk

To expose the falseness or hollowness of (a myth, idea, or belief)

decorous

in keeping with good taste and propriety; polite and restrained

decry

to publicly denounce

defamatory

damaging the good reputation of someone: slanderous or libelous

defer

to put off (an action or event) to a later time; postpone

deferential

Showing deference; respectful.

deft

neatly, skillful, and quick in one's movements; demonstrating skill and cleverness

defunct

no longer in effect or use; not operating or functioning

deleterious

causing harm or damage

delineate

describe or portray something precisely; indicate the exact position of (a border or boundary)

demagogue

a political leader who seeks support by appealing to the desires and prejudices of ordinary people rather than by using rational argument

demarcation

the action of fixing the boundary or limits of something; a dividing line

demure

reserved, modest, and shy (typically used of a woman); (of clothing) giving a modest appearance

denigrate

criticise unfairly; disparage

deprecate

express disapproval of; belittle something

derelict

in a very poor condition as a result of disuse and neglect

deride

express contempt for; ridicule.

desecrate

treat (a sacred place or thing) with violent disrespect; violate.

desiccated

having had all moisture removed; dried out

despondent

in low spirits from loss of hope or courage.

despot

a ruler or other person who holds absolute power, typically one who exercises it in a cruel manner

diaphanous

light, delicate, and translucent.

didactic

intended to teach, particularly in having moral instruction as an ulterior motive.

diffident

modest or shy because of a lack of self-confidence.

diffuse

spread or cause to spread over a wide area or among a large number of people.

dilatory

slow to act

diligent

showing care in work/duties

diminutive

extremely small. di'min'unitive is like 'mini'

dirge

a hymn of grief or lamentation. 'Dirge' sounds like 'bird' and black birds are related to grief

discomfit

make someone feel uneasy. 'Discomfit' sounds like 'discomfort'

discordant

disagreeing/conflicting. 'Cordant' sounds like 'coordinated' and if someone is uncoordinated, their body parts don't work together

discursive

going from subject to subject

disparage

regarding as being of little worth

disparate

different in kind

disseminate

spread widely

dissent

publicly disagreeing with something

dissipate

disappear or cause to disappear

dissonance

lack of harmony among musical notes

distend

swell or cause to swell by pressure from the inside

dither

be indecisive

divine

of, from, or like God or a god

dogmatic

inclined to lay down principles incontrovertibly true

dour

relentlessly severe, stern, or gloomy in manner or appearance

dubious

hesitating or doubting

duplicity

deceitfulness; double dealing

duress

threats, violence, constraints, or other action brought to bear on someone to do something against their will or better judgement