Set 4 Flashcards
curtail
V
to lessen, reduce
daunting
A
intimidating, causing one to lose courage
dearth
N
a lack, scarcity
debacle
N
a disastrous failure, disruption
debase
V
to lower the quality or esteem of something
debauch
V
to corrupt by means of sensual pleasures
debunk
V
to expose the falseness of something
decorous
A
socially proper, appropriate
decry
V
to criticize openly
deface
V
to ruin or injure something’s appearance
defamatory
A
harmful toward another’s reputation
defer
V
to postpone something; to yield to another’s wisdom
deferential
A
showing respect for another’s authority
defile
V
to make unclean, impure
deft
A
skillful, capable
defunct
A
no longer used or existing
delegate
V
to hand over responsibility for something
deleterious
A
harmful
deliberate
A
intentional, reflecting careful consideration
delineate
V
to describe, outline, shed light on
demagogue
N
a leader who appeals to people’s prejudices
demarcation
N
the marking of boundaries or categories
demean
V
to lower the status or stature of something
demure
A
quiet, modest, reserved
denigrate
V
to belittle, diminish the opinion of
denounce
V
to criticize publicly
deplore
V
to feel or express sorrow, disapproval
depravity
N
wickedness
deprecate
V
to belittle, depreciate
derelict
A
abandoned, run-down
deride
V
to laugh at mockingly, scorn
derivative
A
taken directly from a source, unoriginal
desecrate
V
to violate the sacredness of a thing or place
desiccated
A
dried up, dehydrated
desolate
A
deserted, dreary, lifeless
despondent
A
feeling depressed, discouraged, hopeless
despot
N
one who has total power and rules brutally
destitute
A
impoverished, utterly lacking
deter
V
to discourage, prevent from doing
devious
A
not straightforward, deceitful