Our first picks, and when to use them
- Dream Reach for it when expressing aspiration before a route or outcome is certain
- Discover Reach for it when describing the moment inquiry, exploration, or chance reveals something new
- Dig Reach for it when expressing relaxed enthusiasm or recognition in casual conversation
- Dare Reach for it when encouraging action when fear or uncertainty is the main barrier
- Dote Reach for it when describing warm, visible love that may verge on indulgence
- Dance Reach for it when inviting joyful, expressive, or patterned movement
D verbs51
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To move rhythmically, often to express joy or follow music.
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Families began to dance when the band played the first tune.
In a phrase dance together, dance freely Similar sway, groove, waltz
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To face uncertainty with enough courage to act.
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Young reporters dare to question assumptions that others overlook.
In a phrase dare to ask, dare to begin Similar venture, risk, brave
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To impress or delight someone greatly.
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The young acrobats dazzle the audience with skill and timing.
In a phrase dazzle an audience, dazzle with skill Similar impress, amaze, captivate
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To review an experience so people can learn from it.
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The rescue crew will debrief after every training exercise.
In a phrase debrief the team, debrief after Similar review, recap, interview
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To find and remove errors from a system or plan.
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The volunteers debug the booking form before registration opens.
In a phrase debug code, debug a system Similar troubleshoot, diagnose, repair
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To reduce carbon emissions from an activity or system.
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The city plans to decarbonize its buses with clean electricity.
In a phrase decarbonize transport, decarbonize industry Similar electrify, abate, mitigate
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To work out the meaning of something difficult or encoded.
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Mina helped decipher the faded note without guessing at missing words.
In a phrase decipher a message, hard to decipher Similar decode, interpret, unravel
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To remove unneeded things and create useful order.
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We will declutter the storeroom before donating the spare equipment.
In a phrase declutter a room, declutter the desk Similar tidy, organize, clear
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To convert a message or pattern into understandable information.
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The analyst could decode the signal despite heavy interference.
In a phrase decode a signal, decode the message Similar decipher, decrypt, interpret
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To release pressure or relax after sustained effort.
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A quiet walk helps the night nurse decompress after work.
In a phrase decompress after work, time to decompress Similar unwind, relax, destress
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To remove harmful substances from a person, object, or place.
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Specialists will decontaminate the workshop before anyone returns.
In a phrase decontaminate equipment, decontaminate the site Similar disinfect, sterilize, clean
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To make something more attractive by adding pleasing details.
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Children will decorate the hall with paper flowers.
In a phrase decorate a room, decorate for a celebration Similar adorn, embellish, ornament
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To commit time, effort, or something valuable to a purpose.
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The town will dedicate the new garden to local nurses.
In a phrase dedicate time, dedicate resources Similar devote, commit, pledge
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To reach a sound conclusion from known facts or evidence.
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From the fresh tracks, Nia could deduce which gate was open.
In a phrase deduce from evidence, logically deduce Similar infer, conclude, reason
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To protect someone or something from harm or unfair attack.
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The lawyer volunteered to defend tenants facing illegal eviction.
In a phrase defend a community, defend a right Similar protect, guard, shield
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To treat a dangerous heart rhythm with an electrical shock.
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Paramedics may defibrillate a patient when the monitor indicates it.
In a phrase defibrillate a patient, attempt to defibrillate Similar shock, cardiovert, resuscitate
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To make a dangerous or tense situation safer and calmer.
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Her honest apology helped defuse the argument before it spread.
In a phrase defuse tension, defuse the situation Similar de-escalate, calm, ease
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To describe boundaries or details with clarity and precision.
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The map will delineate every accessible route through the park.
In a phrase clearly delineate, delineate the boundary Similar outline, describe, define
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To bring a promised result or provide what is needed.
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The new pump can deliver clean water to every floor.
In a phrase deliver a service, deliver results Similar provide, supply, distribute
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To make a difficult subject easier to understand.
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The mechanic used a clear diagram to demystify the engine.
In a phrase help demystify, demystify the process Similar clarify, explain, simplify
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To remove nuclear weapons or military nuclear capability.
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The treaty would denuclearize the region through verified steps.
In a phrase denuclearize the region, fully denuclearize Similar disarm, dismantle, decommission
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To remove or neutralize an unpleasant smell.
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Fresh charcoal can deodorize the cupboard without added fragrance.
In a phrase deodorize a room, naturally deodorize Similar freshen, neutralize, air
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To reduce division and encourage shared understanding.
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Listening sessions helped depolarize the debate around the new shelter.
In a phrase help depolarize, depolarize discussion Similar reconcile, bridge, moderate
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To help someone abandon violent or extremist beliefs.
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The program aims to deradicalize recruits through counseling and education.
In a phrase attempt to deradicalize, help deradicalize Similar rehabilitate, disengage, reintegrate
Show all 51 verbs
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To end enforced separation and allow equal participation.
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The district worked to desegregate its advanced science classes.
In a phrase desegregate schools, effort to desegregate Similar integrate, include, open
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To strongly want something valued or beneficial.
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Residents desire a park that children can reach safely.
In a phrase deeply desire, desire change Similar want, wish for, hope for
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To reduce shame and unfair judgment around a condition or identity.
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Open conversations can destigmatize asking for mental health support.
In a phrase help destigmatize, destigmatize discussion Similar normalize, humanize, validate
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To reduce tension and return to a calmer state.
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Ten quiet minutes helped the caregivers destress between appointments.
In a phrase time to destress, help destress Similar relax, unwind, decompress
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To remove knots or straighten something that has become tangled.
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A wide comb can detangle the curls without pulling.
In a phrase gently detangle, detangle hair Similar untangle, comb, unravel
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To remove or neutralize poisonous substances.
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The treatment helps the liver detoxify harmful compounds safely.
In a phrase detoxify a compound, help detoxify Similar neutralize, decontaminate, purify
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To grow, improve, or bring something into a stronger form.
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Weekly workshops help new managers develop listening skills.
In a phrase develop skills, develop a plan Similar grow, improve, cultivate
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To invent or plan a useful method or solution.
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The students devised a simple way to collect rainwater.
In a phrase devise a solution, devise a method Similar invent, design, formulate
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To correctly identify an illness or the cause of a problem.
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The technician used pressure readings to diagnose the hidden leak.
In a phrase diagnose the fault, difficult to diagnose Similar troubleshoot, analyze, pinpoint
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Informally, to like, appreciate, or understand something.
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I dig how the new mural includes every neighborhood landmark.
In a phrase really dig, dig the idea Similar like, enjoy, appreciate
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To give respect, worth, or seriousness to someone or something.
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Listening fully can dignify another person's experience.
In a phrase dignify the work, dignify an experience Similar honor, respect, elevate
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To remove uncertainty by making a meaning precise.
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Adding dates helped the editor disambiguate the two similar accounts.
In a phrase disambiguate the term, disambiguate between Similar clarify, distinguish, specify
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To reduce hostility or suspicion through a reassuring manner.
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A sincere apology helped disarm the angry customer.
In a phrase disarm suspicion, disarm with humor Similar reassure, defuse, charm
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To relieve someone of a worry, duty, or heavy load.
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Sharing the route planning will disburden the volunteer coordinator.
In a phrase disburden someone of, help disburden Similar unburden, relieve, free
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To notice, understand, or judge something clearly.
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Careful readers can discern the difference between evidence and opinion.
In a phrase discern a pattern, discern the difference Similar notice, distinguish, recognize
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To find or learn something previously unknown.
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The students used the microscope to discover a detailed pattern in the leaf.
In a phrase discover a way, discover something new Similar find, uncover, learn
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To free something from confusion, complication, or entanglement.
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The mediator helped disentangle the facts from years of resentment.
In a phrase disentangle the issues, disentangle fact from rumor Similar separate, clarify, resolve
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To clean by destroying harmful microorganisms.
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Staff disinfect the shared tools after every workshop.
In a phrase disinfect surfaces, thoroughly disinfect Similar sanitize, sterilize, decontaminate
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To make fear, doubt, or misunderstanding disappear.
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The demonstration helped dispel concerns about the bridge's stability.
In a phrase dispel doubts, dispel a myth Similar allay, banish, clear
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To extract and express the most important ideas clearly.
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Mara can distill a long debate into three fair questions.
In a phrase distill the essence, distill into Similar summarize, condense, synthesize
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To recognize or identify a difference accurately.
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Experienced guides distinguish fresh tracks from marks left yesterday.
In a phrase distinguish between, clearly distinguish Similar differentiate, discern, discriminate
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To add variety so a group or system becomes broader or stronger.
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The farm will diversify its crops to reduce risk.
In a phrase diversify income, diversify the team Similar vary, broaden, expand
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To give money, goods, time, or services to help others.
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Several farms donate fresh produce to the pantry.
In a phrase donate money, donate blood Similar give, contribute, gift
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To show great fondness and loving attention.
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The grandparents dote on the twins without spoiling them.
In a phrase dote on, dote upon Similar adore, cherish, pamper
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To fit together neatly, effectively, or harmoniously.
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The library workshops dovetail with lessons taught at the school.
In a phrase dovetail with, dovetail neatly Similar align, complement, integrate
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To adopt a slower and less pressured way of living or working.
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They chose to downshift and reserve Fridays for family care.
In a phrase choose to downshift, downshift your career Similar slow down, simplify, decelerate
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To imagine a desired possibility or future.
Show example
The young engineers dream of making clean water easier to reach.
In a phrase dream of, dare to dream Similar hope, imagine, aspire
Questions people ask
- How many positive verbs start with D?
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This list has 51 verbs that start with D; 41 of them are in everyday use.
- What is a positive verb that starts with D?
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Dream: To imagine a desired possibility or future. Others to consider: Discover, Dig, Dare, Dote, Dance and Debug.
- What positive action words start with D?
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Each verb here names something a person does, thinks or feels. Good places to start are Dream, Discover, Dig, Dare, Dote, Dance, Debug and Dazzle.
- Where are the other positive words that start with D?
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All 199 positive words that start with D, in every part of speech, are on the letter page.
All 199 D words