defuse

American  

[dee-fyooz] / diˈfyuz /

Or defuze

verb (used with object)

defused, defusing

1. to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).

2. to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing.

   to defuse a potentially ugly situation.

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verb (used without object)

defused, defusing

1. to grow less dangerous; weaken.

defuse British  

/ diːˈfjuːz /

verb

1. to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)

2. to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)

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Commonly Confused

See diffuse

Other Word Forms

• defuser noun

Etymology

Origin of defuse

First recorded in 1940–45; de- + fuse ¹

Example Sentences

She has tightened drug enforcement along the border, expelled imprisoned cartel bosses wanted by the U.S. and imposed 50% tariffs on Chinese-made vehicles and other goods, defusing U.S. threats of harsher tariffs.

From The Wall Street Journal

Meanwhile, China began to defuse the "Three Brotherhood Alliance" -- peeling away two of its factions based along its border with truces.

From Barron's

That’s because no other play has the same dual impact—defusing an opponent’s drive while igniting one of their own.

From The Wall Street Journal

This hint of retreat from the earlier crackdown shows that even Gnassingbé's nimble international networking cannot defuse the underlying political discontent at home.

From BBC

Two potentially damaging stories have been defused, for now.

From BBC

Related Words

• alleviate
• deactivate
• lessen
• soothe