This page gathers the 5,691 dictionary entries of which at least one sense is labelled “Figuratively” by Wiktionary. The definition shown is that sense; each word leads to its full entry. Page 15 of 57: from “doctor” to “dust”.
- doctor verb To alter or make obscure, as with the intention to deceive, especially a document.
- dodge verb To avoid; to sidestep.
- dodo noun A person or organisation which is very old or has very old-fashioned views or is not willing to change and adapt.
- doff verb To cast aside or get rid of (something), to throw off.
- dog noun A dull, unattractive girl or woman.
- dog whistle noun That which is understood only by a narrow demographic.
- dog-eared adj Ragged, worn-out; also, hackneyed, tired.
- dog-whistling noun The act or habit of uttering phrases or expressions which is understood only by a narrow demographic.
- dogbone noun Any object with such a shape.
- dogpile noun Any similarly disorderly pile of people or things.
- doll's house noun A small, cramped, dwelling-place.
- Domesday Book noun A record of any other Norman survey.
- domiciliate verb To settle (oneself) into a mode of thinking or the like.
- dominical adj Of printed text: in a large size.
- dominion noun A kingdom, nation, or other sphere of influence; governed territory.
- don't drive faster than your guardian angel can fly proverb Do not rush impulsively into things or get carried away by your emotions.
- doomsday event noun A disastrous occurrence.
- door noun A means of approach or access.
- doorkeeper noun Someone with power to keep others out of some sphere or activity.
- doormat noun Someone who habitually yields to others' demands or mistreatment, failing to assert their own rights or interests.
- doorstep noun One's immediate neighbourhood or locality.
- doorway noun An opening or passage in general.
- dormouse noun A person who sleeps a great deal, or who falls asleep readily (by analogy with the sound hibernation of the dormouse).
- dose noun Anything disagreeable that must be taken.
- dotted adj Covered with irregularly scattered objects.
- double down verb To significantly increase a risk, investment, or other commitment; to respond to a challenge (e.g. to an opinion) by reinforcing or…
- double-barrelled adj Forceful, powerful (like a double-barrelled shotgun).
- double-decker noun Any object with two layers or parts stacked on top of each other.
- double-dyed adj Firmly fixed in opinions or habits; confirmed; inveterate.
- double-edged adj Beneficial and harmful at the same time; assisting or contributing in one manner while also creating risk or negative consequences.
- double-edged sword noun A benefit that is also a liability, especially a benefit that carries some significant but not-so-obvious cost or risk.
- douchebag noun A jerk or asshole; a mean or rude person; someone seen as being arrogant, snobby or obnoxious.
- doughnut noun A circular life raft.
- dovelike adj Peaceful; innocent; pacifist.
- dovetail verb To combine or fit (things) together well.
- dovish adj Peaceful, conciliatory.
- down verb To defeat; to overpower.
- down for the count adj Soundly unconscious, either because asleep or because otherwise knocked out.
- down-page adj Of low or insignificant importance.
- downcast adj Of a person: feeling despondent or discouraged.
- downfallen adj Having undergone a defeat, or been ousted from a position of authority.
- downright adv Completely, wholly.
- downspin noun a downward spiral.
- downstairs adv In or to hell.
- downstream adj Occurring later than something else; (also, usually, especially) influenced by something else; being a consequence of something else.
- downtrodden adj Oppressed, persecuted or subjugated.
- downward spiral noun A series of thoughts or actions which feeds back into itself, causing a situation to become progressively worse.
- drag verb To search exhaustively, as if with a dragnet.
- drag up verb To educate reluctant pupils.
- dragnet noun A heightened effort by law enforcement personnel undertaken in order to capture suspects.
- dragon noun Something very formidable or dangerous.
- dragoness noun A female dragon.
- dragstrip noun Any place for high-speed competitive activity.
- drain the swamp verb To eliminate the root causes of problems, especially to rid politics and government of evils, such as corruption and bureaucracy.
- draped adj surrounding or surrounded.
- draw verb To cause (a body part) to contract or shrink; also, to pull (the mouth, the face or features, etc.) out of shape from emotion, etc.; to…
- draw and quarter verb To severely punish or criticize someone.
- draw blood verb To have an injurious effect; to strike home, as a barb or insult.
- draw fire verb In an armed encounter, to attract gunfire from an adversary, whether unintentionally or deliberately for the purpose of allowing one's…
- drawbridge noun A tendency to provide only limited access.
- drawing board noun The planning stage of a project.
- dream noun A hope or wish.
- dredge up verb To find by diligently searching, especially from unsavory sources.
- dregs noun The worst and lowest part of something.
- drench noun A dose or draught of liquid medicine (especially one causing sleepiness) taken by a person; specifically, a (large) dose, or one forced or…
- dress verb To put clothes (or, formerly, armour) on (oneself or someone, a doll, a mannequin, etc.); to clothe.
- dribble verb To move or roll slowly or in small quantities.
- drill verb To investigate or examine something in more detail or at a different level
- drink noun A downpour; a cloudburst; a rainstorm; a deluge; a lot of rain.
- drink from the furry cup verb To perform cunnilingus.
- drink in verb To absorb; to be completely attentive to.
- drip-feed verb To dispense or dole out in very small portions over a period of time.
- drive home verb To emphasize (a point) with tangible or powerful demonstration.
- drive-by adj Done in a cursory or superficial manner with little regard for the issues involved; careless, offhand.
- driver's seat noun A position of control or dominance.
- drool verb To react to something with uncontrollable desire.
- droop verb To proceed downward, or toward a close; to decline.
- drop noun A small quantity of liquid, just large enough to hold its own rounded shape through surface tension, especially one that falls from a…
- drop dead verb To be appalled or mortified.
- drop off verb To drop from, fall from.
- drop out verb To cause someone to slip and/or fall down.
- dross noun Worthless or trivial matter.
- drove noun A large number of people on the move.
- drown verb To inundate, submerge, overwhelm.
- drowse noun A state of dullness or inactivity, as if from sleepiness.
- drumbeat noun A driving force.
- drumbeater noun A propagandist.
- drumfire noun A sustained attack.
- dry verb To exhaust; to cause to run dry.
- dry biscuit noun Anything that is displeasing or of poor quality.
- dry hole noun Something that brings no success or profit; a dead loss.
- dry light noun A clear, impartial view.
- dry rot noun Any progression of decay, corruption, or obsolescence.
- dry spell noun A period or time where there is little activity, productivity, low income etc.
- dual-use adj That can be used for both beneficial and harmful purposes.
- duck verb To evade doing something, especially something considered a responsibility.
- dumb adj Pointless, foolish, lacking intellectual content or value.
- dumping ground noun Any place where unwanted items are sent.
- dunghill noun Any wretchedly mean, dirty or loathsome place, situation or condition.
- dust noun The substance of the human body or mortal frame.