verb

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Good / Smart

delve - To research or make painstaking inquiries into something

In his research for his book about George Washington, the author delved into the details of his life and presidency.

noun

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Bad / Dangerous

Url

deluge - A severe flood or overwhelming rush of water.

The heavy rain turned into a deluge, submerging cars and streets

adjective

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Bad / Crazy

deranged - Behaving in an uncontrolled or dangerous way because of mental illness

Charles Manson led a group of followers who became mentally deranged as a result of taking too many psychedelic drugs

verb

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Bad / Dishonest

Url

deceive - To mislead or trick someone, especially for personal gain.

Don’t try to deceive me — I know what really happened.

verb

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Bad / Confused

Url

destablizing - To cause a government or person to be unable to continue in the usual or desired way

The massive debt that King Louis XVI faced was destablizing for France, and led to the revolution of 1789.

verb

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Other / Stop

Url

derail - To obstruct or divert from an expected or intended course.

The train was derailed by a fallen tree during the storm.

verb

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Bad / Dangerous

Url

detonate - To cause something to explode suddenly and violently.

One small spark is enough to detonate a barrel of fireworks.

verb

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Good / Smart

Url

defray - To pay for something in a way that reduces or delays costs, expenses, or financial obligation.

They decided to rent out the basement in order to defray the cost of the monthly mortgage payments.

verb

See noun

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Other / Shape

Url

dent - To make a slight hollow or depression in a surface by impact or pressure.

The car’s door was dented when it was accidentally hit by a shopping cart.

verb

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Good / Smart

demystify - To make something easier to understand

Louis Pasteur demystified why people would get sick, by describing little beings called bacteria that were the cause.

verb

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Bad / Hostile

Url

denigrate - To damage the good name or character of a person.

Political factions sometimes denigrate each other instead of focusing on real issues

verb

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Bad / Delay

deflect - To direct attention away from a topic

At the press conference the Mayor didn't want to talk about the issue being asked, so he deflected the question and talked about a different subject.