defang

[ dee-fang ]

verb (used with object)

1. to remove the fangs of:

   to defang a snake.

2. to cause to become less powerful or threatening; render harmless.

Word History and Origins

Origin of defang¹

First recorded in 1950–55; de- + fang ¹

Example Sentences

The Voting Rights Act, partially defanged by the Supreme Court after 2011, still requires legislators in each state to draw a number of majority-minority districts.

From Washington Post

In so doing, the film becomes essentially a loving tribute—but it feels oddly hollow and defanged, and may leave viewers wondering exactly what the point of the whole fandango is.

From The Daily Beast

One goal would be to defang Ayton, who is shooting almost 70 percent from the floor in the playoffs and scores with relative ease when Milwaukee’s non-centers are forced to guard him in the paint.

From FiveThirtyEight

These vaccines were made to defang or tame the virus, and they’re doing an excellent job at that.

From Science News

Meanwhile, in Missouri, the passage of Amendment 3 would defang the redistricting reform initiative that 62 percent of voters approved in 2018.

From FiveThirtyEight

It may even sink the talks President Obama is hoping will persuade Iran to defang its nuclear program.

From The Daily Beast

Yet this overdetermined combination, with its delicious and delicate execution, helps defang both symbols and make them ludicrous.

From The Daily Beast

To be sure, Washington has been trying to defang this capability, but it has been living with it.

From The Daily Beast

There is indeed a threat, but it is the Northern Irish parties themselves who are in the best position to defang it.

From The Daily Beast

This simple switch would single-handedly defang conservative fear-mongering about the national socialization of health care.

From The Daily Beast