defang
Americanverb (used with object)
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to remove the fangs of.
to defang a snake.
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to cause to become less powerful or threatening; render harmless.
Etymology
Origin of defang
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The operation was seen as a way to assure Israelis that we had the ability to defang their main foe without launching a risky attack.
From Slate ● Apr. 15, 2024
As Chrissie, Linney is a model of restraint, keeping her character’s counsel while subtly attempting to defang the resentments of the others.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 13, 2023
But Mr. McCarthy has been set on not replicating those mistakes, trying to defang his biggest detractors by rewarding them with committee chairmanships and powerful positions on the Rules Committee.
From New York Times ● Jun. 7, 2023
Unionization, once a powerful weapon in the arsenal of the nation's workforce, looks to be making a comeback – at least marginally, after decades of declining membership and strong-arm tactics by management to defang it.
From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2022
What better way to defang a secret society than to make public its most secret information?
From "Freakonomics: A Rogue Economist Explores the Hidden Side of Everything" by Steven D. Levitt
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
