defuse
Americanverb (used with object)
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to remove the fuze from (a bomb, mine, etc.).
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to make less dangerous, tense, or embarrassing.
to defuse a potentially ugly situation.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to remove the triggering device of (a bomb, etc)
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to remove the cause of tension from (a crisis, etc)
Commonly Confused
See diffuse
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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defusesimple
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defusessimple
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have defusedperfect
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has defusedperfect
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am defusingprogressive
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are defusingprogressive
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is defusingprogressive
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have been defusingperfect progressive
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has been defusingperfect progressive
Past
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defusedsimple
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had defusedperfect
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was defusingprogressive
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were defusingprogressive
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had been defusingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of defuse
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.
See Examples For:
On Tuesday, before Svyrydenko's announcement, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk -- at loggerheads with the country's nationalist president on a number of fronts -- sought to defuse the tensions between Warsaw and Kyiv.
From Barron's ● Jun. 23, 2026
Meanwhile, at another peaceful protest on Wednesday night at Stormont - the site of Northern Ireland's devolved parliament - one protester claimed online misinformation was being used to defuse protests.
From BBC ● Jun. 12, 2026
Whether they can help defuse human conflict is another question.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 15, 2026
Ritchson, according to the source, attempted to defuse the situation after Taylor allegedly dared him to get physical.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 23, 2026
It was clear that someone else—probably Johanna—had written the statement and that he had been compelled to read it to defuse the situation.
From "Anger Is a Gift" by Mark Oshiro
By being open about her autism, Woo defuses and demystifies it for neurotypical colleagues and clients.
From Washington Post ● Apr. 13, 2023
The songs are back, preceded by dialogue in which Guenevere preemptively defuses their sting with Sorkin-esque wit.
From New York Times ● Mar. 22, 2023
"He has got to make a clean breast. I usually find that if you make your apologies, it defuses the issue. Can't have it hanging on," said the lawmaker.
From Reuters ● Jan. 12, 2022
“We’re going to see Elton John and just have some fun together, no deadlines, no sides to learn. It defuses the permanency of the last day of shooting.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 6, 2020
And although there couldn’t be a more neutral statement, it defuses any insectious worries I might have given her.
From "Challenger Deep" by Neal Shusterman
Murray defused the situation adeptly, declaring: "Playing at a Wimbledon final is tough and I certainly wouldn't want to be Prime Minister, it's a tough job."
From BBC ● Jun. 29, 2026
Mr. Homan defused a combustible situation by adjusting the style and substance of immigration enforcement.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 20, 2026
She declined to answer questions on whether tensions had been defused with Washington.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 25, 2026
The summit will offer Brussels the chance to turn the page after a bruising transatlantic crisis over Greenland -- now seemingly defused.
From Barron's ● Jan. 24, 2026
As with the spy Penkovsky before him, the information Gordievsky passed to his handlers, experts believe, may well have defused a global crisis and averted nuclear war.
From "Spies: The Secret Showdown Between America and Russia" by Marc Favreau
Meanwhile, a delegation from Qatar travelled to Iran on Friday for talks aimed at defusing tensions and easing navigation through the Strait of Hormuz.
From BBC ● Jul. 11, 2026
Instead of defusing the situation or pivoting to a new subject, Kimmel leaned in on Tuesday.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 29, 2026
Netflix has amended its proposed $72-billion purchase of Warner Bros. and HBO, converting it to an all-cash offer in hopes of defusing criticisms from rival bidder, David Ellison’s Paramount.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 20, 2026
Every crisis requiring defusing in “The Pitt” rolls right into the team’s midst.
From Salon ● Jan. 8, 2026
The small concession placated the demonstrators outside the courthouse and they agreed to leave, defusing the situation, at least for a while.
From "The Best of Enemies" by Osha Gray Davidson
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
