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.

adjective

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Bad / Powerless

Url

desperate - Feeling or showing a hopeless sense that a situation is so bad it’s impossible to deal with.

He made a desperate plea for help, calling every possible number he could find, after the flood severly damaged his home.

adjective

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Bad / Powerless

Url

destitute - poor; not having money, food, home, or possessions.

The drug addict was destitute, and often resorted to stealing food in order to survive.

noun

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Bad / Unhappy

despair - Having no hope that things will get better.

Alan sank into a despair that he could not overcome by himself, so he went to a therapist.

verb

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Bad / Attack

Url

desecrate - To damage or show contempt toward something that is revered.

They were shocked at how people had desecrated the historical monument.

adjective

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Bad / Crazy

delusional - Seeing or believing things that are not real

Betty was confident that she would be a millionaire by the time she would be 25, but her friends thought she was delusional.

adjective

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Bad / Bad

Url

depraved - Morally bad or evil

When he hit rock bottom, he decided to end his depraved lifestyle, and pull himself up and be a normal and healthy member of society.

adjective

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Bad / Weak

depleted - When resources and energy are used up and emptied.

After a week lost in the enormous forest, Bill found this energy - and possibly his hope - was almost depleted.

verb

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Good / Smart

Url

decipher - To figure out the meaning of something difficult to understand.

The archaeologists worked hard to decipher the ancient symbols on the wall.

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.

verb

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Bad / Weak

deplete - To reduce something by a large amount so that there is not enough left, such as resources or money

By the end of the marathon run, Bill felt that his energy was totally depleted, and he could barely walk.

adjective

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Bad / Dislike

Url

derogatory - Showing strong disapproval and not showing respect

After 6 months of singing lessons, she was insulted by what she regarded as derogatory remarks by her friends after she sang at the concert.