defuse

verb

de·​fuse (ˌ)dē-ˈfyüz 

defused; defusing; defuses

transitive verb

1

: to remove the fuse from (a mine, a bomb. etc.)

2

: to make less harmful, potent, or tense

defuse a crisis

Did you know?

defuse or diffuse?

Many people find it difficult to remember the difference between defuse and diffuse, and when faced with the need for one of these words simply grab whichever one first comes to mind. But it needn’t be this way: the meanings of these two are quite a bit different, and there is a simple way to differentiate between them. Defuse is formed by adding the prefix de- to the word fuse; you are removing the fuse (either literally or figuratively) when you defuse a situation, much as defanging something entails removing the fangs. Diffuse, when used as a verb, tends to carry meanings such as “spread” or “scatter.” Additionally, diffuse is the only one which may be found used as an adjective.

Examples of defuse in a Sentence

Skilled negotiators helped defuse the crisis.

Recent Examples on the Web

Ken Brown, 59, Julien’s older half-brother, was struck by the similarities in both dearths — both his slain loved one and Hopkins were peacemakers trying to defuse a violent situation. —John Annese, New York Daily News, 2 Dec. 2024

The leftist leader defused a threat from Trump in 2019 to impose stiff tariffs on Mexican goods by agreeing to deploy the military to deter U.S.-bound migrants. —Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 29 Nov. 2024

Musk also met on Nov. 11 with Iran's ambassador to the United States in an effort to help defuse tensions between the two countries, according to multiple reports. —Michael Collins, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024

Provide step-by-step strategies for managing difficult conversations, defusing conflicts, and fostering harmonious relationships during family gatherings. —Tor Constantino, Mba, Forbes, 20 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1943, in the meaning defined at sense 1