ISEE/SSAT Vocabulary Builder›Words›D

ISEE & SSAT vocabulary words starting with D

118 words from the 1,500-word ISEE and SSAT deck, each with its meaning. Open a word for example sentences, synonyms and antonyms.

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• daring adjective — willing to try something bold or difficult
• dart verb — to move suddenly and quickly
• daunting adjective — seeming difficult or frightening to face
• deadline noun — the latest time by which work must be finished
• dearth noun — a scarcity or lack of something
• debacle noun — a sudden, humiliating failure or collapse
• debate verb — to discuss different sides of a question or issue
• debilitate verb — to weaken someone's strength or ability severely
• debonair adjective — confident, stylish, and charming in manner
• decade noun — a period of ten years
• decathlon noun — a track and field contest made up of ten different events
• decent adjective — satisfactory, respectable, or morally correct
• decimal adjective — relating to a number system based on units of ten
• declare verb — to state something clearly and firmly
• decorum noun — behavior in keeping with good taste and propriety
• decrepit adjective — worn out and weakened by age or neglect
• deduce verb — to reach a conclusion through logical reasoning
• deduction noun — a conclusion reached by logical reasoning from known facts
• deface verb — to damage or spoil the surface or appearance of something
• deference noun — polite respect that yields to another's wishes
• deficient adjective — lacking a necessary quality or amount
• definite adjective — clearly decided, certain, or specific
• deflect verb — to cause something to change direction, especially by turning it aside
• deft adjective — skillful and quick in movement or action
• dejected adjective — sad and depressed, especially after disappointment
• delay verb — cause something to happen later
• deleterious adjective — causing harm or damage
• deliberate adjective — done intentionally and with careful thought
• delighted adjective — very pleased and happy
• delineation noun — a clear description or precise outlining of something
• delude verb — to deceive into believing something false
• democracy noun — a system of government in which citizens vote to choose their leaders
• democrat noun — a supporter of government run by its citizens rather than a single ruler
• democratic adjective — relating to or supporting equal rights and decision-making by the people
• demonstrate verb — to show clearly by example or evidence
• demure adjective — modest and reserved in manner
• denounce verb — to publicly criticize or condemn something as wrong
• dependable adjective — able to be trusted to do what is needed
• depiction noun — a visual or verbal representation of something
• deplete verb — to reduce greatly in number or amount
• deplore verb — to feel or express strong disapproval of
• depravity noun — extreme moral corruption or wickedness
• deride verb — to ridicule; to laugh at scornfully
• derive verb — to obtain from a source or reach by reasoning from evidence
• descend verb — to move downward
• describe verb — to give an account of something in words
• deserve verb — to be worthy of something because of actions or qualities
• desist verb — to stop doing something, especially something ordered or requested to end
• despondent adjective — in low spirits from loss of hope or courage
• destitute adjective — without the basic necessities of life, especially due to extreme poverty
• destruction noun — severe damage that ruins or wrecks something completely
• desultory adjective — lacking a clear plan, purpose, or steady effort
• detain verb — to keep someone from leaving; to hold back
• detect verb — to notice or discover something
• deter verb — to discourage someone from doing something, typically through fear or difficulty
• detest verb — to dislike intensely
• detour noun — a different route taken to avoid something
• detrimental adjective — harmful or damaging to something
• devious adjective — using clever but dishonest or underhanded methods
• devour verb — to eat something quickly and greedily
• devout adjective — deeply religious; pious; also, earnestly devoted
• dexterous adjective — skillful and precise in physical movement
• dialogue noun — a conversation between two or more people
• diaphanous adjective — light, delicate, and almost transparent
• dictate verb — to say or read something aloud for another person to write down, or to give orders
• didactic adjective — intended to teach, especially with a moral lesson
• diffident adjective — modest because of a lack of self-confidence
• diffuse adjective — spread over a wide area rather than concentrated
• digress verb — to stray from the main subject in speech or writing
• diligence noun — careful and persistent work or effort
• diligent adjective — showing steady, careful effort
• diminish verb — to become or make smaller in size or importance
• dingy adjective — dark, dirty, and dull-looking
• disabuse verb — to free someone from a mistaken belief
• disaffected adjective — dissatisfied with and no longer loyal to an authority
• discard verb — to throw away or get rid of something no longer needed
• discern verb — to perceive or recognize, especially with effort
• discomfit verb — to make uneasy, embarrassed, or confused
• disconcerted adjective — unsettled, confused, or embarrassed by something unexpected
• discord noun — lack of agreement; tension
• discursive adjective — wandering from one subject to another instead of staying focused
• disdain noun — the feeling that someone or something is unworthy of one's attention
• disingenuous adjective — not candid or sincere, often while pretending innocence
• disparage verb — to speak of in a slighting or belittling way
• disparate adjective — markedly different in kind, essentially unrelated
• disparity noun — a great difference or inequality between things
• dispassionate adjective — not influenced by emotion or personal bias
• dispensation noun — special permission to disregard a rule or requirement
• dispose verb — to get rid of or throw something away
• dissemble verb — to conceal true motives or feelings behind a false appearance
• dissipate verb — to scatter or gradually disappear
• dissolute adjective — lacking moral restraint, especially in pursuit of pleasure
• distinguish verb — to recognize the difference between things
• distort verb — to twist or alter something out of its true or original shape or meaning
• distraught adjective — deeply upset and unable to think clearly
• divisive adjective — causing disagreement or hostility between people
• divulge verb — to reveal private or secret information
• docile adjective — easy to handle or train; obedient
• doctrinaire adjective — rigidly devoted to a theory despite practical evidence
• dogmatic adjective — asserting opinions forcefully as if they were unquestionable fact
• doleful adjective — expressing deep sadness or sorrow
• dormant adjective — temporarily inactive but capable of becoming active again
• downpour noun — a sudden period of heavy rain
• draft noun — an early version of a piece of writing
• dreadful adjective — extremely bad or unpleasant
• dreary adjective — dull, gloomy, and not pleasant
• drench verb — to make something completely wet
• drift verb — to move slowly without a clear direction
• drizzle noun — light rain made of very small drops
• drowsy adjective — sleepy and not fully alert
• dubious adjective — doubtful; not to be relied upon
• dullard noun — a person considered slow-witted or foolish
• duplicity noun — deceitful double-dealing
• durable adjective — able to withstand wear and last a long time
• duration noun — the length of time something continues or lasts
• dusty adjective — covered with fine, dry dirt
• dwindle verb — to grow gradually less or smaller
• décor noun — the style of furnishing and arranging a room or building's interior

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