Barron’s GRE Word List D

Barron’s GRE Word List Please click the link for which Barron’s word list you want to go.

A A B B C C D D E E F F G G H H I I J J K K L L M M N N O O P P Q Q R R S S T T U U V V W W X X Y Y Z Z

dabble work at in a non serious fashion; splash around; move noisily in a liquid
dainty delicate; delicately beautiful; fastidious; not easy to please; Ex. dainty movement/dress
dais raised platform for speakers or other important people
dally trifle with; toy with; treat without the necessary seriousness; procrastinate; waste time
damn condemn; criticize severely; condemn to everlasting punishment; doom; bring to ruin; N. damnation
dank damp; unpleasantly wet
dapper neat and trim (in appearance); (of small men) neat in appearance and quick in movements; neat; spry
dappled spotted
dart move or throw suddenly and quickly
daub smear (as with paint); cover with something sticky; Ex. daub one’s clothes with mud/paint; N: small bit of sticky substance; Ex. a daub of paint

daunt (v)

intimidate; frighten; discourage; dishearten

dauntless bold; fearless
dawdle loiter; hang around; waste time doing nothing
daze stun as with a blow or shock; bemuse; benumb; N.
dazzle make blind with a sudden intense light; amaze; fill with wonder
deadlock standstill resulting from the opposition of two unrelenting forces; stalemate
deadpan wooden; impassive; with no show of feeling; with an expressionless face
dearth scarcity
debacle sudden disastrous downfall or defeat; complete disaster
debar bar; forbid; exclude; Ex. debarred from jury services
debase degrade; reduce in quality or value; degenerate; lower in esteem; disgrace; N. debasement
debauch corrupt morally; seduce from virtue; N. debauchery: wild behavior (with sex and alcohol)

debilitate
weaken (esp. through heat, hunger, illness); enfeeble

debonair (of men) friendly, charming, and fashionably dressed; aiming to please; CF. of good disposition
debris rubble; wreckage; scattered remains of something broken or destroyed
debunk expose as false, exaggerated, worthless, etc.; ridicule
debut d\’ebut; first public appearance; formal presentation of a young woman to society
debutante young woman making formal entrance into society
decadence decay; fall to a lower level (of morality, civilization, or art); ADJ. decadent
decant pour off gently (wine or liquid)
decapitate behead
decelerate slow down
deciduous falling off at a specific season or stage of growth as of leaves; Ex. deciduous tree/teeth
decimate kill (usually one out of ten or every tenth man); destroy or kill a large part of
decipher decode; CF. indecipherable
declivity downward slope
decollete (of a dress) having a low-cut neckline; CF. d\’ecolletage: low neckline (on a dress)
decomposition decay; V. decompose: decay; break and separate into simple parts
decorous proper (in behavior, conduct, or appearance)
decorum propriety; orderliness and good taste in manners; appropriateness of behavior or conduct

decoy
lure or bait

decree authoritative order; edict; judgment of a court of law; V: order or judge by decree
decrepit weak and in bad condition from old age or hard use; Ex. decrepit old chair/man
decrepitude state of collapse or weakness caused by illness or old age
decry express strong disapproval of; condemn openly (something dangerous to the public); disparage; Ex. decry the violence of modern films
deducible derived by reasoning; V. deduce: infer; derive by reasoning
deface mar; disfigure
defalcate embezzle
defame harm someone’s reputation; malign; speak evil of; slander; N. defamation; ADJ. defamatory
default failure to act; failure to perform a task or be present; V.
defeatist resigned to defeat or failure; accepting defeat or failure as a natural outcome; N. CF. defeatism
defect shortcoming; V: desert (in order to join the opposite one)
defection desertion
defer give in respectfully; submit; delay till later; exempt temporarily; N. deferment; CF. show respect, comply with, courteous
deference courteous regard for another’s wish; courteous yielding to another’s wish or opinion (showing respect); ADJ. deferential; OP. effrontery
defiance refusal to yield; resistance; V. defy; ADJ. defiant
defile pollute; make filthy or dirty; corrupt morally; profane; desecrate; N: narrow passage or gorge through mountains
definitive most reliable; authorative and complete; that cannot be improved; conclusive; decisive; definite; Ex. definitive decision by the supreme court
deflect turn aside; turn away from a straight course
defoliate destroy leaves; deprive of leaves (by the use of chemicals); N. defoliant
defray provide for the payment of; undertake the payment of; pay
defrock strip a priest or minister of church authority; unfrock
deft neat; skillful
defunct dead; no longer in use or existence
degenerate become worse in quality; deteriorate; ADJ: having become worse; Ex. a degenerate species; N: depraved or corrupt person
degradation humiliation; debasement; degeneration; V. degrade: debase; disgrace; degenerate; reduce (something) in worth; demote (someone); reduce in rank
dehydrate remove water from; dry out
deify turn into a god; make a god of; idolize; Ex. Kings were deified; CF. deity
deign condescend; stoop
delete erase; strike out

deleterious
harmful

deliberate consider; ponder; ADJ: done on purpose; slow
delineate portray; depict; sketch; describe; N. delineation
delirium mental disorder marked by confusion; uncontrolled excitement; ADJ. delirious
delta flat plain of mud or sand between branches of a river
delude deceive
deluge flood; rush; V.
delusion false belief; hallucination; deluding; Ex. delusions of grandeur; Ex. under the delusion that
delusive deceptive; likely to delude; misleading; raising vain hopes; Ex. delusive promises
delve dig; search deeply; investigate
demagogue person who appeals to people’s prejudice; false leader of people; CF. demagoguery
demean disgrace; humiliate; debase in dignity; behave
demeanor behavior; bearing
demented insane
demerit fault; bad quality
demise death
demographic related to population balance; N. demography: statistical study of human population
demolition destruction; V. demolish
demoniac(demoniacal) fiendish; cruel; N. demon: evil supernatural being; devil
demotic of or pertaining to the people
demur object (because of doubts, scruples); raise an objection (showing qualms); hesitate; Ex. demur at the idea of working on Sunday
demure (of a woman or child) grave; quiet and serious; coy; pretending to be demure
denigrate blacken; defame
denizen (animal, person, or plant) inhabitant or resident of a particular place; regular visitor
denomination religious group; unit in a system; name or designation; CF. denominator: common trait or characteristic
denotation meaning; distinguishing by name; V. denote: indicate; refer to directly; mean; CF. connotation

denouement
final outcome; final development of the plot of a play or other literary work; the end of a story when everything is explained

denounce condemn; criticize; N. denunciation
depict portray
deplete reduce; exhaust
deplore regret; express sorrow and severe disapproval for something bad; Ex. deplore their violent behavior; ADJ. deplorable: very bad; deserving severe disapproval; Ex. deplorable living condition
deploy spread out (troops) in an extended though shallow battle line; distribute (persons or forces) systematically or strategically
deport send out of the country; behave; N. deportation, deportment
depose dethrone; remove from office; give a deposition; testify
deposition testimony under oath; deposing; dethroning
depravity extreme corruption; wickedness; V. deprave
deprecate express disapproval of; deplore; protest against; belittle; ADJ. deprecatory
depreciate lessen in value; belittle; represent as of little value
depredation plundering; destruction
deputize work or appoint as a deputy; N. deputy: person who has the power to take charge when the leading person is away
deranged insane
derelict negligent; (of someone) neglectful of duty; (of something) deserted by an owner; abandoned; N: abandoned property; homeless or vagrant person
dereliction neglect of duty; abandonment
deride ridicule; treat with contempt; make fun of; OP. respect
derision ridicule; ADJ. derisive; CF. derisory
derivation deriving; origin or source of something; Ex. the derivation of the word
derivative unoriginal; obtained from another source; Ex. derivative prose style; N.
dermatologist one who studies the skin and its diseases
derogatory expressing a low opinion; disparaging; V. derogate: detract; disparage
descry catch sight of (something distant)
desecrate profane; violate the sanctity of
deserts what someone deserves
desiccate dry up
desolate make desolate; forsake; abandon and desert
desperado reckless, desperate outlaw
desperate having lost all hope; despairing; reckless and violent because of loss of hope or despair; undertaken as a last resort
despise look on with scorn; regard as worthless or distasteful; ADJ. despicable: contemptible
despoil plunder; sack; Ex. despoil the village

despondent
without hope and courage; depressed; gloomy; N. despondency: loss of hope with gloom; dejection

despot tyrant; harsh, authoritarian ruler; CF. despotism
destitute extremely poor; lacking means of subsistence; utterly lacking; devoid; Ex. destitute of any experience
desultory aimless; haphazard; digressing at random
detached emotionally removed; free from emotional involvement; calm and objective; physically separate; N. detachment; CF. attachment
detain keep waiting; prevent from leaving or going; N. detention
determinate having a fixed order of procedure; precisely defined; invariable; fixed; conclusive; final
determination resolve; firmness of purpose; measurement or calculation; decision
deterrent something that discourages or deters
detonation explosion
detraction slandering; aspersion; detracting; CF. detractor
detrimental harmful; damaging; N. detriment
deviate turn away from (a principle, norm); move away from an accepted standard; swerve; depart; diverge; N. deviation; Ex. deviation of the path of light by a prism
devious roundabout; erratic; deviating from the straight course; not straightforward; not completely honest; Ex. devious route
devise think up; invent; plan; bequeath; N: bequest
devoid empty; lacking
devolve deputize; pass or be passed to others (power, work, or property); Ex. devolve on/upon/to
devotee enthusiastic follower; enthusiast; Ex. devotee of Bach
devout pious; deeply religious; sincere; earnest; Ex. my devout hope
dexterous skillful; skill in using hands or mind; N. dexterity
diabolical diabolic; devilish; fiendish
diadem crown
dialectical relating to the art of debate; mutual or reciprocal; Ex. dialectical situation; N. dialectic: art of arriving at the truth by the exchange of logical arguments
diaphanous sheer; transparent
diatribe bitter scolding or denunciation; invective; abuse
dichotomy division into two opposite parts; split; branching into two parts (especially contradictory ones)
dictum authoritative and weighty statement (made by a judge in court); saying; maxim; CF. obiter dictum: incidental, nonbinding remark (something said in passing)
didactic (of speech or writing) intended to teach a moral lesson; teaching; instructional; N. didacticism
die metal block used for shaping metal or plastic; device for stamping or impressing; mold; CF. dice

diffidence
shyness; lack of self-confidence; timidity; ADJ. diffident

diffuse wordy; verbose; rambling; spread out (like a gas); V: spread out in all directions; disperse; N. diffusion; CF. suffuse
dignitary person of high rank or position
digression wandering away from the subject; V. digress
dilapidated falling to pieces; in a bad condition; ruined because of neglect; Ex. dilapidated old car/castle; N. dilapidation
dilate expand; dilate on/upon: speak or write at length on (a subject)
dilatory delaying; tending to delay
dilemma situation that requires a choice between equally unfavorable options; problem; choice of two unsatisfactory alternatives
dilettante aimless follower of an art or a field of knowledge (not taking it seriously); amateur; dabbler; CF. delight
diligence steadiness of effort; persistent hard work
dilute make (a liquid) less concentrated; reduce in strength; Ex. dilute the influence of the president
diminution lessening; reduction in size; V. diminish
din continued loud noise; V: make a din; instill by wearying repetition
dinghy small boat (often ship’s boat)
dingy (of things and place) dirty and dull; Ex. dingy street/curtain
dint means; effort; Ex. by dint of hard work
diorama life-size, three-dimensional scene from nature or history; three-dimensional scene with modeled figures against a painted background
dire warning of disaster; disastrous; (of needs and dangers) very great; urgent; Ex. dire prediction/need of food
dirge funeral song; slow mournful piece of music (sung over a dead person)
disabuse correct a false impression; undeceive; free from a wrong belief
disaffected disloyal; lacking loyality; V. disaffect: cause to lose affection or loyalty
disapprobation disapproval; condemnation
disarray state of disorder; a disorderly or untidy state; Ex. with her clothes in disarray
disavowal denial; disclaiming; repudiating; disowning; V. disavow; CF. disclaim
disband dissolve; disperse; (of a group) break up and separate; Ex. The club has disbanded.
disbar make (a lawyer) leave the bar or the legal profession
disburse pay out (as from a fund); N. disbursement; CF. purse
discernible distinguishable; perceivable; Ex. discernible improvement
discerning mentally quick and observant; having insight; perceptive; able to make good judgments; V. discern: perceive
disclaim disown; renounce claim to; deny; CF. disclaimer
disclose reveal; N. disclosure
discombobulated discomposed; confused
discomfit frustrate; put to rout; defeat; disconcert; embarrass; perturb
discompose disturb the composure of; confuse
disconcert confuse; upset; embarrass; perturb

disconsolate
hopelessly sad (at the loss of something)

discord conflict; lack of harmony; dissonance (when musical notes are played)
discordant not harmonious; conflicting
discount disregard; regard (a story or news) as unimportant; deduct from a cost
discourse serious speech, writing, or conversation; formal discussion (either written or spoken); conversation; V.
discredit defame; disgrace; destroy confidence in; disbelieve; N. CF. discreditable: causing discredit; shameful
discrepancy lack of consistency or agreement as between facts; difference; Ex. discrepancy between two descriptions
discrete separate; unconnected
discretion prudence; ability to adjust actions to circumstances; freedom of action or judgment; ADJ. discreet; CF. discretionary
discriminate distinguish; make distinctions on the basis of preference
discriminating able to see differences; discerning; prejudiced; N. discrimination
discursive (of a person or writing) digressing; rambling (without any clear plan)
disdain treat with scorn or contempt
disembark debark; go ashore (from a ship); unload cargo from a ship; CF. embark
disenfranchise disfranchise; deprive of a civil right; OP. enfranchise
disengage uncouple; separate; disconnect; stop fighting; OP. engage
disfigure mar the appearance of; spoil
disgorge surrender something (stolen); eject; vomit; OP. gorge
disgruntle make discontented
dishearten discourage
disheveled untidy (of hair or clothing); V. dishevel
dishonor disgrace; N. ADJ. dishonorable
disinclination unwillingness
disingenuous not naive; not candid; sophisticated; worldly wise; OP. ingenuous
disinter dig up; unearth; OP. inter
disinterested unprejudiced; free from bias and self-interest; objective
disjointed disconnected; lacking coherence; V. disjoint: disconnect; disjoin
disjunction act or state of separation; disunity; CF. disjunctive: expressing a choice between two ideas; CF. conjunction; CF. conjunctive
dislodge remove (forcibly); force out of a position; Ex. dislodge the food caught in his throat; CF. lodge
dismantle take apart; disassemble
dismember cut into small parts; cut (a body) apart limb from limb
dismiss eliminate from consideration; no longer consider; put out of court without further hearing; reject; discharge from employment; direct to leave; ADJ. dismissive; N. dismissal
disparage belittle
disparate basically different; impossible to compare; unrelated
disparity difference; condition of inequality; OP. parity
dispassionate calm; impartial; not influenced by personal feelings
dispatch speediness; prompt execution; message sent with all due speed; V: send to a specified destination; finish promptly; kill
dispel scatter; drive away; cause to vanish
dispense distribute; prepare and give out (medicines); N. dispensation: dispensing; religious system; official exemption from an obligation or a rule
disperse scatter; Ex. disperse the cloud/crowd

dispirited
lacking in spirit

disport amuse; Ex. disport oneself; CF. divert
disproportion lack of proportion (between the parts); ADJ. disproportionate
disputatious argumentative; fond of argument
disquietude uneasiness; anxiety; V. disquiet: make anxious
disquisition formal systematic inquiry; explanation of the results of a formal inquiry; long formal speech or written report
dissection analysis; cutting apart in order to examine
dissemble disguise; hide the real nature of; pretend
disseminate distribute; spread; scatter (like seeds)
dissension disagreement of opinions causing strife within a group
dissent disagree
dissertation formal essay; treatise
dissident dissenting (with an opinion, a group, or a government); rebellious; N.
dissimulate pretend; conceal by feigning; dissemble
dissipate squander; waste foolishly; scatter
dissolution disintegration; reduction to a liquid form; looseness in morals; sensual indulgence; debauchery; ADJ. dissolute: lacking in moral restraint; leading an immoral life
dissonance discord
dissuade persuade not to do; discourage; N. dissuasion
distant reserved or aloof; cold in manner; Ex. distant greeting; ADV. distantly
distend expand; swell out
distill refine (a liquid by evaporating and subsequent condensation); concentrate; separate the most important parts from; Ex. distill fresh water from sea water; CF. brew
distinct clearly different; clearly noticed
distinction honor; excellence; difference; contrast; discrimination; Ex. graduated with distinction; Ex. a writer of real distinction
distinctive clearly different from others of the same kind
distort twist out of shape; give a false account of; misrepresent; N. distortion
distract take (one’s attention) off something; upset emotionally; make anxious; ADJ. distracted
distrait absentminded; distracted
distraught upset; distracted by anxiety; very anxious and troubled almost to the point of madness; Ex. distraught with grief/worry
diurnal daily; occurring during the daytime
diva operatic singer; prima donna
diverge vary; go in different directions from the same point; ADJ. divergent: differing; deviating
diverse differing in some characteristics (from each other); various; N. diversity: | variety; dissimilitude; lack of resemblance
diversion act of turning aside; pastime; V. divert: turn aside from a course; distract; amuse
divest strip (as of clothes); deprive (as of rights); dispossess; N. divestiture(divestment)
divine perceive intuitively (by or as if by magic); foresee the future; foretell; dowse; ADJ. N. divination
divulge reveal
docile obedient; easily managed; submissive
docket program as for trial; book where such entries are made; list of things to be done; agenda; label fixed to a package listing contents or directions; V: describe in a docket
doctrinaire unable to compromise about points of doctrine; dogmatic; unyielding; marked by inflexible attachment to a doctrine without regard to its practical difficulties
doctrine teachings in general; particular principle (religious, legal, etc.) taught; dogma; tenet; ADJ. doctrinal
document provide written evidence (for a claim); record with documents; N.
doddering shaky; infirm from old age; V. dodder
doff take off; OP. don
dogged determined; stubborn; stubbornly persevering; tenacious; Ex. Inspector Javert’s dogged pursuit of Jean Valjean
doggerel poor verse

dogmatic
opinionated; holding stubbornly to one’s opinion; arbitrary; doctrinal

doldrums blues; listlessness(lack of spirit or energy); slack(inactive) period; period of stagnation; ocean area near the equator where ships cannot move because there is no wind; Ex. in the doldrums
dolorous sorrowful; N. dolor
dolt slow-thinking stupid person; CF. dull
domicile home; V. ADJ. domiciled: having one’s domicile; Ex. He is domiciled in Britain.
dominant exercising the most influence; high and easily seen; stronger than the other part of a system; not recessive
dominate control; rule; enjoy a commanding position in; overlook from a height; ?????
domineer rule over tyrannically
don put on; OP. doff
doom condemnation to a severe penalty; ruin; fate (esp. a tragic or ruinous one); V.

dormant (n)

sleeping; temporarily inactive; lethargic; latent

dormer window projecting upright from roof; CF. sleeping room

dorsal relating to the back of an animal; Ex. dorsal fin
dossier file of documents on a subject or person; file; CF. bundle of papers labeled on the back
dotage senility; feeble mindedness of old age; Ex. In one’s dotage
dote be excessively fond of; show signs of mental decline
dour sullen; gloomy; stubborn
douse plunge into water or liquid; dip; immerse; drench; wet throughly; extinguish; throw water over; dowse
dowdy untidy (of a woman or clothes); slovenly; dressed in an unattractive way; shabby; CF. unattractive woman
downcast disheartened; dejected; sad; directed downward
dowry money or property brought by a bride to her husband at marriage
dowse use a divining rod to search for underground water or minerals
doze sleep lightly; nap
drab dull; lacking color; cheerless ; Ex. drab coat/life
draconian extremely severe; Ex. draconian punishment; CF. Draco: Athenian politician
draft first rough form; conscription; draught; V: make a draft of; conscript
drama prose or verse composition to be performed by actors; play; exciting and unusual situation
drastic strong; violent and severe; Ex. drastic changes/measures
draught current of air (through a room or to a fire); act of pulling roads; act of swallowing liquid or amount of liquid swallowed at a time
draw choosing of a lot or card
dregs sediment in a liquid; lees; worthless residue
dribble flow or fall in drops; let saliva flow out slowly from the mouth; move a ball; N.
drip fall or let fall in drops; shed drops; N: action or sound of falling in drops; liquid that falls in drops
drivel nonsense; foolishness; V: talk nonsense
droll queer and amusing
drone talk dully; buzz or murmur like a bee; N.
droop bend or hang downward; become weakened; Ex. His shoulders drooped with tiredness; N.
dross waste matter; worthless impurities
drudge do drudgery; N: person who drudges
drudgery hard unpleasant work; menial work
dubious questionable; (of something) causing doubt; (of someone) filled with doubt; N. dubiety
ductile malleable; pliable; (of metals) easily pulled into shape; flexible; (of someone) easily influenced or controlled
dulcet sweet sounding; pleasing to the ear; melodious
dull (of colors or surfaces) not bright; cloudy; overcast; boring; (of edge or sound) not sharp; not rapid; sluggish; slow in thinking and understanding; stupid; V.
dumbfound(dumfound) astonish (making dumb); ADJ. dumbfounded, dumfounded, dumbstruck

dummy
imitation of a real object used as a substitute; effigy

dupe someone easily fooled or deceived; V: deceive
duplicity double-dealing; hypocrisy; being dishonest and deceitful; ADJ. duplicitous
duration length of time something lasts
duress forcible restraint, especially unlawfully; coercion by threat; illegal coercion; Ex. a promise made under duress
dutiful(duteous) (of people or their behavior) respectful; obedient (filled with a sense of duty)
dwindle shrink; reduce gradually
dynamic energetic; vigorously active

dynamo
generator for producing electricity; energetic person

dys- abnormal; impaired
dysentery inflammatory disorder of the lower intestinal tract
dyslexia word blindness; learning disorder marked by impairment of the ability to read
dyspeptic suffering from indigestion; N. dyspepsia: indigestion; difficulty in digesting food

Barron’s GRE Word List Please click the link for which Barron’s wordlist you want to go.

A A B B C C D C E E F F G G H H I I J J K K L L M M N N O O P P Q Q R R S S T T U U V V W W X X Y Y Z Z

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