One Word Substitutions Starting with D

Da – De

Dabble – To take part in superficially

Dais – Raised platform for speakers/guests

Dalliance – Casual involvement, flirtation

Dally – To waste time, loiter

Dandle – To move a child playfully up and down

Dastardly – Cowardly and cruel

Datum – A piece of information

Dauntless – Fearless

Debacle – Sudden disaster, collapse

Debase – To reduce in value or quality

Debauchery – Excessive indulgence in pleasures

Debilitate – To weaken

Debonair – Confident, stylish, charming

Debtor – A person who owes money

Decade – Period of 10 years

Decadent – Declining in morals/culture

Decapitate – To cut off the head

Decipher – To decode, interpret

Declamation – Public speech with rhetorical effect

Decompose – To rot, decay

Decree – An official order

Decrepit – Old and weak

Deduce – To draw a conclusion

Deface – To spoil the surface/appearance

Default – Failure to meet obligation

Defection – Desertion of one’s cause/country

Defenestration – The act of throwing out of a window

Defer – To postpone OR yield to someone’s opinion

Defiance – Open resistance

Defile – To pollute, make dirty

One Word Substitutions Starting with D

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De (continued)

Defunct – No longer existing

Degrade – To lower in dignity or quality

Dehydrate – To remove water

Deify – To worship as a god

Deign – To condescend to do something

Deity – God or goddess

Dejected – Depressed, sad

Deliberate – Done with careful thought

Delinquent – Criminal, law-breaking person

Delirium – Mental disturbance with confusion

Delta – Triangular deposit at river mouth

Delude – To deceive, mislead

Demagogue – Leader who gains power by stirring passions

Demography – Study of human population

Demolish – To destroy

Demonstration – Public display/protest

Demoralize – To weaken confidence

Demote – To reduce in rank

Denizen – Inhabitant

Denomination – Religious sect; unit of value

One Word Substitutions Starting with D

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De – Di

Denote – To signify, indicate

Denounce – To condemn publicly

Dentist – One who treats teeth

Denude – To strip bare

Dependable – Reliable

Depict – To represent in words/pictures

Deplete – To use up resources

Deplore – To strongly regret or disapprove

Deploy – To station systematically (troops/resources)

Depose – To remove from office

Deposit – Sum of money placed in bank/security

Depraved – Corrupt, morally bad

Deprive – To deny possession

Derail – To go off track

Deride – To mock, ridicule

Derogatory – Disrespectful, insulting

Descendant – A person derived from ancestors

Descry – To catch sight of

Desecrate – To treat a holy place with disrespect

Desiccate – To dry thoroughly

Desist – To stop doing something

Desolate – Lonely, deserted

Despot – Absolute ruler

Destitute – Extremely poor

Desultory – Aimless, lacking plan

Detain – To hold back, keep in custody

Deter – To discourage/prevent

Detract – To take away from value

Detriment – Harm, damage

Devastate – To destroy completely

One Word Substitutions Starting with D

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Di – Do

Devise – To plan or invent

Devotee – Ardent supporter/follower

Dexterous – Skillful with hands

Diabolic – Devilish, wicked

Diagnosis – Identification of disease

Dialect – Regional form of language

Dialogue – Conversation between two persons

Diameter – Line across a circle through center

Dictator – Absolute ruler

Dictionary – Book of word meanings

Didactic – Intended to teach

Diehard – Stubborn opponent

Differentiate – To show difference

Digress – To stray from topic

Dilemma – Situation of difficult choice

Diligent – Hard-working

Diminish – To reduce

Diplomacy – Skill of conducting negotiations

Diplomat – Government representative abroad

Doctrine – Principle or belief

One Word Substitutions Starting with D

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One Word Substitutions Starting with C