defuse

Or de·fuze

[dee-fyooz]

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.

verb (used without object)

defused, defusing 

1. to grow less dangerous; weaken.

defuse

/ diːˈfjuːz /

verb

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

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

Confusables Note

See diffuse

Other Word Forms

• defuser noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of defuse¹

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

Example Sentences

“Mean” comments can sometimes just be ill-judged humor intended to defuse the atmosphere and, yes, sometimes they can be mean.

Read more on MarketWatch

An attempt by aviation industry body Iata to defuse the situation - by stressing that its member airlines were keen to restore operations - failed to appease the Venezuelan government.

Read more on BBC

The goal is to learn how to defuse a situation and respond sensitively.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Then on Friday, dozens of Indigenous protesters blocked the entrance for roughly two hours to spotlight their struggles in the Amazon, prompting high-level interventions to defuse the situation.

Read more on Barron's

Time to learn how to defuse a pepper ball.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• alleviate 
• deactivate 
• lessen 
• soothe