English Vocabulary D–I

 

D

dearth n. a shortage or lack

debacle n. a disastrous failure, disruption

debase v. to lower the quality or esteem of something

debunk v. to expose the falseness of something

decorous adj. socially proper, appropriate

decry v. to criticize openly

defile v. to make unclean, impure

defunct adj. no longer used or existing

delegate v. to hand over responsibility for something

deleterious adj. harmful

deliberate adj. intentional, reflecting careful consideration

demagogue n. a leader who exerts power by appealing to people’s prejudices or emotions

demean v. to lower the status or stature of something

demur v. 1. to voice objection or opposition; 2. to delay

demure adj. quiet, modest, reserved

denigrate v. to belittle, diminish the opinion of

denounce v. to criticize publicly

deprecate v. to belittle, depreciate

derelict adj. abandoned, run-down

deride v. to laugh at mockingly, scorn

derivative adj. taken directly from a source, unoriginal

desecrate v. to violate the sacredness of a thing or place

desiccated adj. dried up, dehydrated

desolate adj. deserted, dreary, lifeless

despot n. one who has total power and rules brutally

destitute adj. impoverished, utterly lacking

desultory adj. aimless, purposeless, haphazard

deter v. to discourage, prevent from doing

devious adj. not straightforward, deceitful

dexterity n. mental or physical skill or grace

diaphanous adj. light, airy, transparent

diatribe n. an abusive verbal or written attack, denunciation

didactic adj. 1. intended to instruct; 2. overly moralistic

diffident adj. shy, quiet, modest

diffuse adj. not concentrated, scattered, disorganized; v. to scatter, thin out, break up;

dilapidated adj. run-down, decayed, neglected

dilatory adj. tending to delay, causing delay

dilettante n. one who dabbles idly in a topic or field of study

diligent adj. showing care in doing one’s work

diminutive adj. small or miniature

disavow v. to deny knowledge of or responsibility for

discern v. to perceive, detect

disclose v. to reveal, make public

discombobulate v. to throw into confusion or bewilderment

discomfited adj. thwarted, baffled, embarrassed

disconsolate adj. cheerless, downcast, gloomy

discord n. disagreement, lack of harmony

discrepancy n. difference, failure of things to correspond

discretion n. 1. the quality of being reserved in speech or action; 2. good judgment

discursive adj. rambling, lacking order

disdain v. to scorn, hold in low esteem; n. scorn, low esteem

disgruntled adj. upset, not content

disheartened adj. feeling a loss of spirit or morale

disparage v. to criticize or speak ill of

disparate adj. sharply differing; containing sharply contrasting elements

dispel v. to drive away, scatter

dissemble v. to conceal, fake

disseminate v. to spread widely

dissent v. to disagree; n. the act of disagreeing

dissipate v. 1. to disappear, cause to disappear; 2. to waste

dissonance n. lack of harmony or consistency

dither v. to be indecisive

divisive adj. causing dissent, discord

divulge v. to reveal something secret

docile adj. easily taught or trained

dogmatic adj. aggressively and arrogantly certain about unproved principles

domicile n. home, dwelling place

dote v. to shower with excessive affection or attention

dour adj. stern, gloomy

dubious adj. doubtful, of uncertain quality

ductile adj. easily molded, stretched, or persuaded

duress n. hardship, threat

 

E

ebb v. to decline, weaken, wane

ebullient adj. extremely lively, enthusiastic

eclectic adj. consisting of a diverse variety of elements

ecstatic adj. intensely and overpoweringly happy

effervescent adj. bubbly, lively

effete adj. weakly decadent or effeminate

efficacious adj. effective

effrontery n. impudence, nerve, insolence

effulgent adj. radiant, splendorous

effusive adj. overflowing, unrestrained, gushy

egregious adj. conspicuously bad

elaborate adj. complex, detailed, intricate

élan n. vigor, enthusiasm

elated adj. overjoyed, thrilled

elegy n. a song or poem of sorrow or lamentation

eloquent adj. expressive, articulate, moving, persuasive, especially as relating to speech

embellish v. 1. to decorate, adorn; 2. to add details to

embezzle v. to steal money by falsifying records

eminent adj. distinguished, prominent, famous, noteworthy

emollient adj. soothing; n. something that soothes or softens

emote v. to express emotion in a dramatic manner

empathy n. sensitivity to another’s feelings as if they were one’s own

empirical adj. 1. based on observation or experience; 2. capable of being proved or disproved by experiment

emulate v. to imitate

enamor v. to fill with love, fascinate (usually used in passive form, e.g., “enamored of”)

encumber v. to weigh down, burden

enervate v. to weaken, exhaust

enfranchise v. to grant the right to vote to

engender v. to bring about, create, generate

enigma n. a puzzling or mysterious person or thing

enmity n. ill will, hatred, hostility

enthrall v. to charm, hold spellbound

envoy n. a representative, messenger, ambassador

ephemeral adj. short-lived, fleeting

epicurean adj. having discriminating tastes, especially for food

epidemic n. a major outbreak of disease; adj. widespread

equanimity n. composure

equilibrium n. a state or point of balance or stasis

equivocal adj. ambiguous, uncertain, undecided; dubious

eradicate v. to destroy, root out

errant adj. 1. wandering, aimless; 2. deviant

ersatz adj. being an artificial and inferior substitute

erudite adj. knowledgeable, learned

eschew v. to shun, avoid

esoteric adj. understood by only a select few

espouse v. to take up as a cause, to support

etymology n. the linguistic history and origins of a word

eulogy n. a speech given in honor of a dead person

euphoric adj. elated, uplifted

evanescent adj. fleeting, momentary

evince v. to show, reveal

exacerbate v. to make more violent, intense

exalt v. to glorify, praise

exasperate v. to irritate, irk

excavate v. to dig out of the ground and remove

exculpate v. to free from guilt or blame, exonerate

excursion n. a trip or outing, usually for fun

execrable adj. loathsome, detestable

exegesis n. critical interpretation or explanation of a text

exigent adj. urgent, critical

exonerate v. to free from guilt or blame, exculpate

expiate v. to make amends for, atone

explicate v. to explain, make clear

expunge v. to erase, strike out

expurgate v. to remove offensive or incorrect parts, usually of a book

extant adj. existing, not destroyed or lost

extol v. to praise, revere

extricate v. to disentangle

extrude v. 1. to force or push out, drive away; 2. to protrude

exult v. to rejoice

 

F

fabricate v. to make up, invent

façade n. 1. the front face of a building; 2. a deceptive appearance or attitude

facile adj. 1. easy, requiring little effort; 2. superficial, achieved with minimal thought or care, insincere

fallacious adj. incorrect, misleading

fastidious adj. meticulous, demanding, having high and often unattainable standards

fathom v. to understand, comprehend

fatuous adj. silly, foolish

fawn v. to seek favor by flattery or lavished affection

fecund adj. fruitful, fertile

felicitous adj. 1. well suited, apt; 2. delightful, pleasing

feral adj. wild, savage

fervent adj. ardent, passionate

fetid adj. having a foul odor

fey adj. 1. fairylike, otherworldly, unconventional; 2. crazy

fickle adj. shifting in character, inconstant

fidelity n. loyalty, devotion

fiduciary n. one who holds trust; adj. having to do with confidence or trust, especially in a legal capacity

figurative adj. symbolic

flabbergasted adj. astounded

flagrant adj. conspicuously bad or offensive

flaunt v. to show off or parade something shamelessly

florid adj. flowery, ornate

flounder v. to blunder, move clumsily, have difficulty

flout v. to show scorn or lack of respect for

flummox v. to confuse, bewilder

foil v. to thwart, frustrate, defeat

foment v. to incite, stir up, promote the development of

forage v. to graze, rummage for food

fortitude n. strength, guts

fortuitous adj. 1. happening by chance; 2. lucky or fortunate

foster v. to stimulate, promote, encourage

founder v. to sink, fail, collapse

fractious adj. troublesome, irritable

frenetic adj. frenzied, hectic, frantic

frivolous adj. of little importance, trifling

frugal adj. thrifty, economical

fulsome adj. 1. offensively excessive or insincere; 2. abundant

 

G

gallivant v. 1. to wander, roam; 2. to flirt

gargantuan adj. enormous, gigantic

garish adj. gaudy, in bad taste

garrulous adj. talkative, wordy

gauge n. a measurement; v. to take measurement of

genial adj. friendly, affable

genteel adj. polite, refined, aristocratic, well-bred

glabrous adj. having a smooth, even, or hairless surface

goad v. to urge, spur, incite to action

gourmand n. someone fond of eating and drinking

grandiloquence n. lofty, pompous language

grandiose adj. on a magnificent, exaggerated scale

gratuitous adj. uncalled for, unwarranted

gregarious adj. sociable, drawn to the company of others

guile n. deceitful, cunning, sly behavior

 

H

hackneyed adj. unoriginal, trite

hallowed adj. holy, revered, consecrated

hapless adj. unlucky, unfortunate

harangue n. a long, ranting speech; v. to give such a speech

hardy adj. capable of surviving adverse conditions, robust

haughty adj. disdainfully proud

havoc n. disorder, chaos, destruction

hedonism n. the pursuit of pleasure as a way of life

hegemony n. domination over others

heinous adj. shockingly wicked, repugnant

heterogeneous adj. varied, diverse in character

hiatus n. a break or gap in duration or continuity

hierarchy n. a system with ranked groups, usually according to social, economic, or professional class

homogeneous adj. uniform, similar in character

hyperbole n. great and often intentional exaggeration

hypocrisy n. pretending to believe what one does not

hypothetical adj. supposed or assumed true but unproven

 

I

iconoclast n. one who attacks common beliefs or institutions

idiosyncratic adj. peculiar to one person; highly individualized

idolatry n. excessive, unthinking worship of someone or something

ignominious adj. humiliating, disgracing

ignorant adj. uneducated, uninformed

immerse v. to absorb, deeply involve, engross

immutable adj. unchangeable

impassive adj. stoic, not susceptible to suffering

impeccable adj. exemplary, flawless

imperious adj. commanding, domineering

impetuous adj. rash, impulsive

impinge v. 1. to impact, affect, make an impression; 2. to encroach, infringe

impious adj. irreverent, failing to show due respect

implacable adj. incapable of being appeased or mitigated

implicit adj. understood but not outwardly obvious, implied

impregnable adj. resistant to capture or penetration

impudent adj. casually rude, insolent, impertinent

impute v. to ascribe, attribute blame

inarticulate adj. incapable of expressing oneself clearly through speech

incandescent adj. brilliant, shining, intense

incendiary adj. inflammatory, causing combustion; n. a person who agitates or stirs dissension

incessant adj. endless, continual

inchoate adj. unformed, formless, in a beginning stage

incontrovertible adj. indisputable

incorrigible adj. incapable of correction, delinquent

inculcate v. to teach by repetition, instill, indoctrinate

indefatigable adj. tireless, unyielding

indigent adj. poor, impoverished; n. one who is very poor

indignant adj. angry, often because of unjust treatment

indolent adj. lazy, inactive

indomitable adj. not capable of being conquered

indubitable adj. indisputable, incontrovertible

induce v. to bring about, stimulate

ineffable adj. unspeakable, incapable of being expressed through words

inept adj. not suitable or capable, unqualified

inequity n. unfairness, injustice

inert adj. unable to act, move, or exert influence

inexorable adj. incapable of being persuaded or placated

infallible adj. incapable of error; failsafe, foolproof, certain

infamous adj. notorious, of ill repute

inflammatory adj. inciting anger or strong emotion

ingenious adj. clever, resourceful

ingenue n. an innocent or naïve young girl

ingenuous adj. not devious; innocent and candid

ingratiate v. to gain favor with someone by conscious effort

inherent adj. part of the essential nature or character or something, intrinsic

inimical adj. hostile, unfriendly, harmful

iniquity n. wickedness or sin

innate adj. inborn, native, inherent

innocuous adj. harmless, inoffensive

innovate v. to do something in an unprecedented way

insatiable adj. incapable of being satisfied

insidious adj. harmful or treacherous despite an appealing outward appearance, seductive

insinuate v. to suggest indirectly or subtly

insipid adj. dull, boring

insolent adj. rude, arrogant, overbearing

insouciant adj. coolly unconcerned, nonchalant

instigate v. to provoke, urge, goad

insular adj. separated, closed off, tight-knit, narrow-minded

insurgent n. one who rebels

integral adj. necessary for completeness

interlocutor n. a participant in a conversation or dialogue

intimation n. an indirect suggestion

intractable adj. difficult to manipulate, unmanageable

intransigent adj. refusing to compromise, often on an extreme opinion

intrepid adj. brave in the face of danger

intrinsic adj. essential, characteristic, inherent

inundate v. to flood with abundance

inure v. to cause someone or something to become accustomed to a situation

invective n. abusive, reproachful, or accusatory language

inveterate adj. stubbornly established by habit

invidious adj. 1. envious; 2. provoking ill will or envy

inviolable adj. secure from assault

irascible adj. easily angered

iridescent adj. showing rainbow colors

irreverent adj. disrespectful

irrevocable adj. incapable of being taken back or revoked

itinerant adj. wandering or traveling, especially to find work