derelict–desert Vocabulary (D Words) – Meanings & Synonyms

derelict

Social IssuesC2

Meaning: A person without a home or job; a vagrant.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The city has programs to help derelicts find shelter.

Category: Social Issues

Synonyms:

vagrant
homeless person

dereliction

LawC2

Meaning: The act of neglecting one's duties.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The officer faced charges for dereliction of duty.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

neglect
abandonment

dereliction of duty

LawC2

Meaning: Failure to fulfill one's responsibilities.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The soldier was court-martialed for dereliction of duty.

Category: Law

Synonyms: neglect of duty

deride

ArtsC2

Meaning: To mock or ridicule someone or something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: They derided his attempts to speak in public.

Category: Arts

Synonyms:

mock
ridicule

Antonyms: praise

derision

ArtsC2

Meaning: Contemptuous ridicule or mockery.

Part of speech: noun

Example: His ideas were met with derision by his peers.

Category: Arts

Synonyms:

mockery
ridicule

Antonyms: admiration

derisive

ArtsC2

Meaning: Expressing contempt or ridicule.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: She gave him a derisive laugh.

Category: Arts

Synonyms:

mocking
scornful

Antonyms: respectful

derisively

ArtsC2

Meaning: In a manner expressing contempt or ridicule.

Part of speech: adverb

Example: He spoke derisively about the proposal.

Category: Arts

Synonyms:

mockingly
scornfully

derisory

EconomicsC2

Meaning: Ridiculously small or inadequate.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The raise was derisory compared to the cost of living.

Category: Economics

Synonyms:

insignificant
meager

Antonyms: substantial

derivation

LanguageC1

Meaning: The origin or source of something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The derivation of the word is from Latin.

Category: Language

Synonyms:

origin
source

derivative

ArtsC1

Meaning: Something that is based on another source.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The film was criticized for being a derivative of earlier works.

Category: Arts

Synonyms:

copy
imitation

Antonyms: original

derive

LanguageB2

Meaning: To obtain something from a specified source.

Part of speech: verb

Example: You can derive pleasure from reading.

Category: Language

Synonyms:

obtain
extract

Antonyms: lose

dermatitis

MedicineC1

Meaning: Inflammation of the skin.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Contact dermatitis can cause rashes.

Category: Medicine › Dermatology

Synonyms: skin inflammation

dermatologist

MedicineB2

Meaning: A doctor who specializes in skin conditions.

Part of speech: noun

Example: You should see a dermatologist for that rash.

Category: Medicine › Dermatology

Synonyms: skin doctor

dermatology

MedicineC1

Meaning: The branch of medicine dealing with skin diseases.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Dermatology is a growing field in medicine.

Category: Medicine › Dermatology

Synonyms: skin medicine

dermis

MedicineC1

Meaning: The layer of skin beneath the epidermis.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The dermis contains blood vessels and nerves.

Category: Medicine › Dermatology

Synonyms: skin layer

derogate

LawC2

Meaning: To detract from the worth or value of something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: His comments did not derogate her achievements.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

diminish
belittle

Antonyms: praise

derogation

LawC2

Meaning: The act of derogating or belittling.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The derogation of her work was unjust.

Category: Law

Synonyms:

diminishment
belittlement

derogatory

LanguageC2

Meaning: Showing a critical or disrespectful attitude.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: He made derogatory remarks about her performance.

Category: Language

Synonyms:

disparaging
insulting

Antonyms: complimentary

derrick

EngineeringC1

Meaning: A type of crane used for lifting heavy objects.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The construction site used a derrick to lift steel beams.

Category: Engineering

Synonyms:

crane
hoist

derring-do

LiteratureC2

Meaning: Brave deeds or heroic actions.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The story is filled with derring-do and adventure.

Category: Literature

Synonyms:

heroism
bravery

dervish

ReligionC2

Meaning: A member of a Muslim religious order known for their ecstatic rituals.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The dervish danced in a trance during the ceremony.

Category: Religion

Synonyms: whirling dervish

desalination

ScienceC1

Meaning: The process of removing salt from seawater to make it drinkable.

Part of speech: noun

Example: Desalination is crucial in arid regions.

Category: Science › Environmental Science

Synonyms: salt removal

descale

ScienceB2

Meaning: To remove scale or mineral deposits from a surface.

Part of speech: verb

Example: You should descale the kettle regularly to keep it clean.

Category: Science › Chemistry

Synonyms:

clean
purify

descant

ArtsC1

Meaning: A melody sung above the main melody.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The descant added beauty to the choir's performance.

Category: Arts › Music

Synonyms:

melody
harmony

descant recorder

ArtsB2

Meaning: A type of recorder instrument pitched in C.

Part of speech: noun

Example: She played a descant recorder in music class.

Category: Arts › Music

Synonyms: recorder

descend

MovementA2

Meaning: To move downward.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The plane will descend to land.

Category: Movement

Synonyms:

go down
drop

Antonyms: ascend

descendant

GenealogyB2

Meaning: A person who is descended from a particular ancestor.

Part of speech: noun

Example: She is a descendant of a famous artist.

Category: Genealogy

Synonyms:

offspring
heir

descended

MovementB1

Meaning: Past tense of descend; to have moved downward.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The bird descended from the tree.

Category: Movement

Synonyms:

came down
dropped

descending

MovementB2

Meaning: Moving downward.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The descending path led to the river.

Category: Movement

Synonyms:

downward
falling

Antonyms: ascending

descent

MovementB2

Meaning: The act of moving downward.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The descent was steep and challenging.

Category: Movement

Synonyms:

decline
drop

Antonyms: ascent

describe

LanguageA2

Meaning: To give an account of something in words.

Part of speech: verb

Example: Can you describe the scene to me?

Category: Language

Synonyms:

depict
illustrate

Antonyms: misrepresent

description

LanguageA2

Meaning: A spoken or written account of something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The description of the product was very detailed.

Category: Language

Synonyms:

account
narrative

descriptive

LanguageB2

Meaning: Serving to describe; providing details.

Part of speech: adjective

Example: The descriptive text helped me understand the story better.

Category: Language

Synonyms:

illustrative
explanatory

Antonyms: vague

descriptor

LanguageC1

Meaning: A word or phrase that describes something.

Part of speech: noun

Example: The descriptor 'tall' applies to the building.

Category: Language

Synonyms:

label
identifier

desecrate

ReligionC2

Meaning: To treat a sacred place or thing with disrespect.

Part of speech: verb

Example: Vandals desecrated the ancient temple.

Category: Religion

Synonyms:

violate
profane

Antonyms: sanctify

deseed

FoodB2

Meaning: To remove seeds from a fruit or vegetable.

Part of speech: verb

Example: You need to deseed the peppers before cooking.

Category: Food

Synonyms: remove seeds

desegregate

Social IssuesC1

Meaning: To eliminate segregation based on race or other factors.

Part of speech: verb

Example: The law aimed to desegregate public schools.

Category: Social Issues

Synonyms:

integrate
unify

Antonyms: segregate

deselect

TechnologyB2

Meaning: To remove a selection from a list or group.

Part of speech: verb

Example: You can deselect the options you don't want.

Category: Technology

Synonyms:

unselect
remove selection

desensitize

PsychologyC1

Meaning: To make someone less sensitive to something.

Part of speech: verb

Example: Repeated exposure can desensitize people to violence.

Category: Psychology

Synonyms:

numb
reduce sensitivity

Antonyms: sensitize

desert

Social IssuesB2

Meaning: To abandon a place or person.

Part of speech: verb

Example: He decided to desert his post during the crisis.

Category: Social Issues

Synonyms:

abandon
forsake

Antonyms:

stay
remain

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