Words That Start With D — Scrabble & Word Games

D is the 10th most common letter in English at about 4.3% of text — a solid mid-frequency consonant. It has a critical dual role: as a regular consonant (DOG, DAD) and as the standard past-tense ending (-ED) that attaches to roughly half of English verbs.

In Scrabble, D is worth 2 points, with 4 tiles in the bag. Because -ED turns nearly any verb into a D-ending word, D tiles are very valuable for extending existing board plays. High-scoring D-words include DJINN, DJINS, DAZZLE, DOZE, DZOS, and DRIZZLY.

Productive D-prefixes: DE- (down, away — DEFINE, DEDUCE), DIS- (apart — DISABLE, DISPLACE), DIA- (across — DIAGRAM, DIAGONAL), DUO- (two). D-initial words also include the full productive -DOM suffix-derived family (FREEDOM, WISDOM) as compound forms of shorter roots.

Top 500 Highest-Scoring Words Starting With D (500 of 16,604)

DECITIZENIZING36
DIZZYINGLY36
DECITIZENIZED35
DEMYTHOLOGIZING35
DEOXYGENIZING35
DYSMORPHOPHOBIC35
DECITIZENIZES34
DECONTEXTUALIZE34
DEHYDROGENIZING34
DEMYTHOLOGIZED34
DEMYTHOLOGIZERS34
DEOXYGENIZED34
DIPHTHONGIZING34
DRIZZLINGLY34
DAZZLINGLY33
DECITIZENIZE33
DEHYDROGENIZED33
DEHYPNOTIZATION33
DEMYTHOLOGIZER33
DEMYTHOLOGIZES33
DEOXYGENIZES33
DIAZOTIZATIONS33
DIPHTHONGIZED33
DYSMORPHOPHOBIA33
DAZZLEMENTS32
DEHYDROGENIZES32
DEHYPNOTIZING32
DEMISEMIQUAVERS32
DEMYTHOLOGIZE32
DEOXIDIZATIONS32
DEOXYGENIZE32
DEPOLYMERIZING32
DESEXUALIZATION32
DEXAMPHETAMINES32
DIAZOTIZATION32
DICHLOROBENZENE32
DICHOTOMIZATION32
DIPHTHONGIZES32
DAZZLEMENT31
DECARBOXYLATING31
DECHRISTIANIZED31
DECOMMUNIZATION31
DEHYDROGENIZE31
DEHYPNOTIZED31
DEMISEMIQUAVER31
DEOXIDIZATION31
DEPOLYMERIZED31
DESEXUALIZING31
DEXAMPHETAMINE31
DIALYZABILITY31
DIAZOTIZING31
DICHOTOMIZING31
DIPHTHONGIZE31
DITHYRAMBICALLY31
DIZZYING31
DECARBOXYLATED30
DECARBOXYLATION30
DECHRISTIANIZES30
DECOMMUNIZING30
DECRIMINALIZING30
DEFEMINIZATIONS30
DEHUMANIZATIONS30
DEHYPNOTIZES30
DEMORALIZINGLY30
DENAZIFICATIONS30
DEOXIDIZING30
DEPOLYMERIZES30
DESEXUALIZED30
DESULPHURIZING30
DIALYZABILITIES30
DIAZOTIZED30
DICHOTOMIZED30
DIPHENHYDRAMINE30
DISHARMONIZING30
DISQUALIFYING30
DIZZINESSES30
DOCUMENTARIZING30
DOLICHOCEPHALIC30
DOLICHOCEPHALY30
DOXYCYCLINES30
DACTYLIOGRAPHY29
DAFFADOWNDILLY29
DAZZLINGS29
DECAPITALIZING29
DECARBONIZATION29
DECARBOXYLASES29
DECARBOXYLATES29
DECARBURIZATION29
DECHRISTIANIZE29
DECIMALIZATIONS29
DECOMMUNIZED29
DECRIMINALIZED29
DEFEMINIZATION29
DEFIBRINIZING29
DEFORMALIZING29
DEHUMANIZATION29
DEHYPNOTIZE29
DEMOBILIZATIONS29
DEMOCRATIZATION29
DEMOGRAPHICALLY29
DEMYTHIFICATION29
DENAZIFICATION29
DEOXIDIZED29
DEOXIDIZERS29
DEPARTMENTALIZE29
DEPHOSPHORYLATE29
DEPOLITICIZING29
DEPOLYMERIZE29
DERMATOGLYPHICS29
DESEXUALIZES29
DESULPHURIZED29
DESULPHURIZERS29
DIAZOTIZES29
DICARBOXYLIC29
DICHOTOMIZES29
DISEQUILIBRIUMS29
DISHARMONIZED29
DISJUNCTIVELY29
DISPAUPERIZING29
DISQUALIFIABLE29
DIZZILY29
DOCUMENTARIZED29
DOXYCYCLINE29
DRIZZLIEST29
DRIZZLING29
DRIZZLY29
DURCHKOMPONIERT29
DYSRHYTHMICS29
DACTYLOGRAPHIC28
DACTYLOGRAPHY28
DAZZLING28
DECAPITALIZED28
DECARBONIZING28
DECARBOXYLASE28
DECARBOXYLATE28
DECARBURIZING28
DECEREBRIZING28
DECIMALIZATION28
DECIPHERABILITY28
DECIVILIZING28
DECOMMUNIZES28
DECRIMINALIZES28
DEEPFREEZING28
DEFEMINIZING28
DEFEUDALIZING28
DEFIBRINIZED28
DEFORMALIZED28
DEGLAMORIZATION28
DEHUMANIZING28
DELEGITIMIZING28
DELIQUESCENCES28
DEMAGNETIZATION28
DEMATERIALIZING28
DEMOBILIZATION28
DEMOCRATIZING28
DEMYTHIFYING28
DENAZIFYING28
DEOXIDIZER28
DEOXIDIZES28
DEPAUPERIZING28
DEPERSONALIZING28
DEPOLITICIZED28
DERIVATIZATIONS28
DERMATOGLYPHIC28
DESEXUALIZE28
DESILVERIZATION28
DESPIRITUALIZED28
DESULFURIZATION28
DESULPHURIZER28
DESULPHURIZES28
DETOXIFICATIONS28
DEVALORIZATIONS28
DEVITALIZATIONS28
DEVOCALIZING28
DIAZOMETHANES28
DIAZOTIZE28
DIBENZOFURANS28
DICHOTOMIZE28
DIEFFENBACHIAS28
DIFFRACTIVELY28
DIFFRACTOMETRIC28
DIFFRACTOMETRY28
DIFFRANGIBILITY28
DIPHENYLKETONES28
DIPLOMATIZING28
DISACKNOWLEDGED28
DISAUTHORIZING28
DISEQUILIBRATED28
DISEQUILIBRIUM28
DISFELLOWSHIPED28
DISHARMONIZES28
DISPAUPERIZED28
DISQUANTITYING28
DISQUISITIONARY28
DISSYLLABIFYING28
DIZZARDS28
DIZZINESS28
DOCKIZATIONS28
DOCUMENTARIZES28
DOMESTICIZING28
DRIZZLED28
DRIZZLIER28
DURCHKOMPONIRT28
DYSRHYTHMIC28
DACTYLOGRAPHERS27
DACTYLOGRAPHIES27
DAZZLED27
DAZZLERS27
DECAPITALIZES27
DECARBONIZED27
DECARBONIZERS27
DECARBURIZED27
DECASUALIZATION27
DECENTRALIZING27
DECEREBRIZED27
DECIMALIZING27
DECITIZENISING27
DECIVILIZED27
DECOLONIZATIONS27
DECOLORIZATIONS27
DECOLOURIZATION27
DECOMMUNIZE27
DECOMPOSABILITY27
DECRIMINALIZE27
DEDRAMATIZING27
DEFEMINIZED27
DEFERVESCENCY27
DEFEUDALIZED27
DEFIBRINIZES27
DEFORMALIZES27
DEGLAMORIZING27
DEHUMANIZED27
DEHUMIDIFYING27
DELEGITIMIZED27
DELIQUESCENCE27
DELOCALIZATIONS27
DEMAGNETIZING27
DEMATERIALIZED27
DEMILITARIZING27
DEMINERALIZING27
DEMOBILIZING27
DEMOCRATIZED27
DEMOCRATIZERS27
DEMONETARIZING27
DEMONETIZATIONS27
DEMORALIZATIONS27
DEMUTUALIZATION27
DENIZENSHIPS27
DENUCLEARIZING27
DEOXIDIZE27
DEPAUPERIZED27
DEPERSONALIZED27
DEPOLARIZATIONS27
DEPOLITICIZES27
DEPRESSURIZING27
DERECOGNIZING27
DERELIGIONIZING27
DERIVATIZATION27
DESACRALIZATION27
DESILVERIZING27
DESPIRITUALIZES27
DESQUAMATIVE27
DESQUAMATORY27
DESTABILIZATION27
DESULFURIZING27
DESULPHURIZE27
DETOXIFICATION27
DETRIBALIZATION27
DEVALORIZATION27
DEVITALIZATION27
DEVOCALIZED27
DEXAMETHASONES27
DEXTROCARDIACS27
DEZINCKING27
DIAGONALIZABLE27
DIAZOMETHANE27
DIBENZOFURAN27
DICHROMATICISMS27
DIEFFENBACHIA27
DIFFRACTIVENESS27
DINITROBENZENES27
DIPHENYLKETONE27
DIPLOMATIZED27
DISACKNOWLEDGES27
DISAUTHORIZED27
DISCOTHEQUES27
DISEQUILIBRATES27
DISHARMONIZE27
DISPAUPERIZES27
DISQUIETINGLY27
DISSOCIALIZING27
DISTHRONIZING27
DISYLLABIFYING27
DIZZARD27
DIZZIED27
DIZZIEST27
DIZZY27
DOCKIZATION27
DOCUMENTARIZE27
DOGMATIZATIONS27
DOLICHOCEPHALS27
DOLOMITIZATIONS27
DOMESTICIZED27
DOXOGRAPHIC27
DOXOGRAPHY27
DOXOLOGICALLY27
DRAUGHTSMANSHIP27
DRIZZLES27
DYBBUKKIM27
DYSRHYTHMIAS27
DACTYLIOMANCY26
DACTYLOGRAPHER26
DAZZLER26
DAZZLES26
DEAMINIZATIONS26
DECAPITALIZE26
DECARBONIZER26
DECARBONIZES26
DECARBURIZES26
DECARTELIZING26
DECASUALIZING26
DECENTRALIZED26
DECEREBRIZES26
DECIMALIZED26
DECITIZENISED26
DECIVILIZES26
DECOLONIZATION26
DECOLORIZATION26
DECOLOURIZING26
DEDRAMATIZED26
DEEPFREEZES26
DEFEMINIZES26
DEFERVESCENCIES26
DEFEUDALIZES26
DEFIBRINIZE26
DEFINITIZING26
DEFORMALIZE26
DEGLAMORIZED26
DEHUMANIZES26
DEINDUSTRIALIZE26
DELEGITIMIZES26
DELINQUENCY26
DELOCALIZATION26
DEMAGNETIZED26
DEMAGNETIZERS26
DEMATERIALIZES26
DEMILITARIZED26
DEMINERALIZED26
DEMINERALIZERS26
DEMOBILIZED26
DEMOCRATIZER26
DEMOCRATIZES26
DEMONETARIZED26
DEMONETIZATION26
DEMORALIZATION26
DEMULTIPLEXERS26
DEMUTUALIZING26
DEMYSTIFICATION26
DEMYTHOLOGISING26
DENATIONALIZING26
DENIZENSHIP26
DENUCLEARIZED26
DEOXYCORTONES26
DEOXYGENATING26
DEOXYGENATIONS26
DEOXYGENISING26
DEPAUPERIZES26
DEPERSONALIZES26
DEPOLARIZATION26
DEPOLITICIZE26
DEPRESSURIZED26
DERACIALIZING26
DERECOGNIZED26
DERELIGIONIZED26
DEREQUISITIONED26
DERIVATIZING26
DERMATOPHYTIC26
DERMATOPHYTOSES26
DERMATOPHYTOSIS26
DESACRALIZING26
DESILVERIZED26
DESOXYRIBOSES26
DESPIRITUALIZE26
DESQUAMATORIES26
DESTABILIZING26
DESULFURIZED26
DESULFURIZERS26
DETHRONIZING26
DETOXIFYING26
DETRIBALIZING26
DEVALORIZING26
DEVELOPMENTALLY26
DEVITALIZING26
DEVOCALIZES26
DEXAMETHASONE26
DEXTROCARDIAC26
DEZINCKED26
DIAGONALIZATION26
DIASTROPHICALLY26
DIAZEUXES26
DIAZEUXIS26
DICHLOROMETHANE26
DICHROMATICISM26
DIEZEUGMENONS26
DIFFERENCYING26
DIFFRACTOMETERS26
DIGITALIZATIONS26
DIHYDROCODEINES26
DINITROBENZENE26
DIPHENYLENIMINE26
DIPHTHONGALLY26
DIPLOMATIZES26
DISACCOMMODATED26
DISACKNOWLEDGE26
DISAFFECTEDLY26
DISAPPROVINGLY26
DISAUTHORIZES26
DISCOMMODIOUSLY26
DISCOTHEQUE26
DISEQUILIBRATE26
DISFELLOWSHIPS26
DISILLUSIONIZED26
DISINTOXICATING26
DISNATURALIZING26
DISORGANIZATION26
DISPAUPERIZE26
DISQUALIFIED26
DISQUALIFIERS26
DISQUALIFY26
DISQUIETEDLY26
DISRESPECTFULLY26
DISSOCIALIZED26
DISTHRONIZED26
DISWORSHIPPING26
DITHIOCARBAMIC26
DIVINIZATIONS26
DIZZIER26
DIZZIES26
DOCKIZING26
DOGMATIZATION26
DOLICHOCEPHAL26
DOLOMITIZATION26
DOMESTICIZES26
DONKEYWORKS26
DOXOGRAPHERS26
DOXOGRAPHIES26
DRAMATIZABLE26
DRAMATIZATIONS26
DRAUGHTPROOFING26
DRIZZLE26
DUCKSHOVINGS26
DUCKWALKING26
DYNAMIZING26
DYSPEPTICALLY26
DYSRHYTHMIA26
DACTYLIOMANCIES25
DACTYLOSCOPY25
DAMASQUINING25
DAZZLE25
DEAMINIZATION25
DECALCIFICATION25
DECARBONIZE25
DECARBURIZE25
DECARTELIZED25
DECASUALIZED25
DECENTRALIZES25
DECEREBRIZE25
DECIMALIZES25
DECITIZENISES25
DECIVILIZE25
DECOLONIZING25
DECOLORIZING25
DECOLOURIZED25
DECONTEXTUALISE25
DEDRAMATIZES25
DEEPFREEZE25
DEEPFROZEN25
DEFEMINIZE25
DEFERVESCENCES25
DEFEUDALIZE25
DEFINITIZED25
DEGLAMORIZES25
DEHUMANIZE25
DEHYDROGENATING25
DEHYDROGENISING25
DEJECTEDNESSES25
DELEGITIMIZE25
DELINQUENCIES25
DELINQUENTLY25
DELIQUESCING25
DELOCALIZING25
DEMAGNETIZER25
DEMAGNETIZES25
DEMATERIALIZE25
DEMILITARIZES25
DEMINERALIZER25
DEMINERALIZES25
DEMOBILIZES25
DEMOCRATIFIABLE25
DEMOCRATIZE25

Frequently Asked Questions

What percentage of English words begin with D?

We count 16,604 D-initial words in the reference list — about 4.6% of the whole dictionary. That proportion tracks D’s overall frequency in English text (4.3%, which ranks it 10th).

Top-scoring Scrabble word that begins with D?

Our highest-value D-initial play is DECITIZENIZING, scoring 36 raw points under TWL scoring. A triple-word square would triple that total. The D tile carries 2 points on its own.

Shortest valid D-word in English?

The shortest word in our list starting with D is DA (2 letters). Short D-words are valuable in Scrabble and Words With Friends for quick scoring on premium squares without emptying your rack.